Are there laws regulating home contractors?
What is a mechanics' lien? I hired a home contractor and he has not finished the work.
Answer
Many small claims court cases involve home contracting disputes. Check local laws, as well as state laws, for code requirements.
Laws
- Find these laws through the New York Senate Consolidated Laws page
- CPLR 3015 (e) Particularity as to specific matters (e) License to Do Business
- General Business Law Article 36-a Home Improvement Contracts
- Lien Law, Art 2 Mechanics’ Liens
- Real Property Law Art 12-B Home Inspection Professional Licensing, § 444-d
- NY City Admin Code Title 20, Subchapter 22 Home Improvement Business, § 20-387
- eCode360® Library: - General Code to find local laws
Case Finders and Digests
- New York Official Reports Digest 2d Consumer Protection > Home Renovation
- West Key Number Topic Licenses
- West Key Number Topic 29T Antitrust and Trade Regulation K203 Construction, renovation, improvement, and repair
Guides and Forms
Lexis
- 3B Bender’s Forms for the Consolidated Laws of New York, Lien Law
- Bender’s Forms of Pleading, Ch 245 Building and Construction Contracts
- Bender's Forms of Pleading, Ch 287, Pt 5 Work, Labor and Services, Building Trades
- 13 NY Jur 2d Businesses and Occupations § 772 Home inspection professionals, generally
- 21 NY Jur Consumer and Borrower Protection, Pt G Home Improvement Contracts
- New York Small Claims Manual
- Steinman, Bergerman & Roth New York Real Property, Ch 21 Mechanics’ Liens
- Warren’s Weed on Real Property, Ch 32 , pt 25 Contracts for Construction or Repair
- Warren’s Weed on Real Property, Ch 92 Mechanics’ Liens
Westlaw
- New York Construction Law Manual
- New York Forms: Legal and Business, Ch 10 Building, Construction, and Improvement
- 13 NY Jur 2d Businesses and Occupations § 772 Home inspection professionals, generally
- 21 NY Jur Consumer and Borrower Protection, Pt G Home Improvement Contracts
Links & Files
- City of Buffalo License Applications & Code Requirements Opens in new window
- Nassau County Consumer Affairs Opens in new window
- New York City Quick Tips When Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor Opens in new window
- New York State Attorney General Opens in new window
- Putnam County Home Improvement Board Opens in new window
- Rockland County Business License Records Opens in new window
- Suffolk County Div of Consumer Affairs Opens in new window
- Westchester Consumer Protection Home Contractors and Trades Opens in new window
- What information on small claims court is available on nycourts.gov? Opens in new window