Westchester Reporter

The Westchester County Consumer Protection Department is cautioning residents as the spring contracting season begins. With homeowners planning various home renovation projects, the department emphasizes the importance of hiring licensed contractors.

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins stated, “Operating without a home improvement license is a violation of law in Westchester County, so if you’re hiring a contractor to do home improvement work, ask the contractor to show you a license from our Consumer Protection Department.”

Jim Maisano, Director of Consumer Protection, added, “Contractors must follow all requirements set forth on Article XVI in County Law – ‘Licensing of Persons Engaged in Home Improvement Business.’ There are almost 9,000 licensed contractors in Westchester to pick from and they all went through a background check, so you have many options and we are here to help you.”

Residents can access a list of licensed contractors and those to avoid on the Westchester County Consumer Protection Department's webpage. The department is diligent in investigating formal complaints against contractors who work without a license or breach contract terms. Complaints can be filed online through the department’s webpage.

For more guidelines on hiring home improvement contractors, visit consumer.westchestergov.com or reach the Department of Consumer Protection at (914) 995-2155 for further assistance.