Homeowner guide

How to check a NJ contractor's registration.

By Rui Reis, owner · October 5, 2026

Before you let anyone open a wall in your house, take ten minutes to check that the business is registered with the State. It's free, it's public, and it's the single easiest way to screen out people who shouldn't be working in your home. I'm Rui Reis, and I run RuLee Construction in Roselle Park. Below I'll walk you through exactly how to do the check, using our own registration number as the example, so you can see what you're looking at.

First, know what you're checking: a registration, not a license

In New Jersey, a business that does home improvement work — kitchens, bathrooms, finished basements, porches, roofing, siding, windows, and so on — has to register with the Division of Consumer Affairs under the Contractors' Business Registration Act (formerly the Contractors' Registration Act; it was renamed when amended by P.L.2023, c.237). The law says no one may offer or perform home improvements unless registered with the Division, and the registration has to be renewed every year.

That's why we always say "registration," not "license." A home improvement registration number in New Jersey starts with 13VH. Ours is 13VH14168400.

Step by step: how to look up a home improvement contractor

The Division of Consumer Affairs links to its lookup from its Home Improvement Contractor page, under "Verify a Contractor Business Registration." Here's how to use it:

  1. Go to the Division's verification site: https://newjersey.mylicense.com/verification/.
  2. Choose Business Search, not Person Search. Home improvement contractors are listed as a business category, so a person search won't find them.
  3. In the Profession drop-down, select Home Improvement Contractors.
  4. Enter the registration number in the License Number field (that's the site's label for every credential type). Using our example, you'd type 13VH14168400. If you don't have a number, search by Business Name instead — the site only needs at least two characters, so try a short piece of the name.
  5. Click Search and open the matching record.

When the record comes up, check three things:

  • The name matches. The business name on the record should match the name on the estimate, the contract, and the truck. If you look up our number, compare the name on the record to the name on our contract — they should match.
  • The number matches. The number on their paperwork should be the same number on the State's record.
  • The status. This is the one people skip, and it matters most.

What "Active" and "Expired" mean

Registration isn't a one-time thing. According to the Division, registrations must be renewed by March 31 each year. A business that is required to register but doesn't — including one that simply fails to renew — is prohibited from selling or making home improvements in New Jersey.

  • Active means the registration is current. That's what you want to see before you sign anything or hand over money.
  • Expired means it wasn't renewed. Whatever the reason, the business isn't currently allowed to sell or do home improvement work. Don't sign until it's resolved and the record shows Active again.

If you can't find the business at all, ask them for the exact registered name and number. If they can't give you one, that tells you what you need to know.

Home improvement registration vs. New Home Builder registration

There's a second registration homeowners sometimes run into, and it's checked in a different place.

  • Home Improvement Contractor registration (Division of Consumer Affairs) covers work on existing homes. Verify it on the Consumer Affairs site above.
  • New Home Builder registration covers building new homes. It's handled by a different agency — the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs — under the New Home Warranty program. The Division of Consumer Affairs notes that construction of a new residence is not considered a home improvement, and that new home builders registered with Community Affairs are exempt from the home improvement registration.

To check a builder, use the Department of Community Affairs Home Builder Search: https://serviceportal.dca.nj.gov/ultra-bhp-home/bhp-home-builder-search/. Builder numbers are seven digits; the page says to add two leading zeros to a five-digit number. You can also search by company name.

We hold both. Our New Home Builder Registration is 0058787, and you can look it up on that page the same way. Most of our work is remodeling, so the home improvement registration is the one that applies to most of our customers' projects. You can see all of our numbers in one place on our certifications page.

Ask for the certificate of insurance

Registration and insurance go together. New Jersey law requires every registered home improvement business to carry and file proof of commercial general liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence, plus workers' compensation insurance unless exempt by law (N.J.S.A. 56:8-142). The same section also requires registered businesses to keep a compliance bond, letter of credit, or other security on file with the Division.

You don't have to take anyone's word for the insurance. The contract law requires a copy of the certificate of general liability insurance, and the phone number of the insurance company that issued it, to be part of any home improvement contract over $500 (N.J.S.A. 56:8-151). When you get the certificate:

  • Check that the named insured matches the business on your contract.
  • Check the policy dates cover your project.
  • If something looks off, call the insurance company at the number listed.

At RuLee we're fully insured, and the certificate of insurance comes with the contract.

The registration number should be everywhere

New Jersey requires registered contractors to prominently display their registration number in their place of business, in all advertising in the State, on business documents, contracts, and correspondence with customers, and on their commercial vehicles (N.J.S.A. 56:8-144). The contract law also requires the registration number in the contract itself.

So a quick test: look at the ad, the estimate, the business card, and the truck. If the number is missing everywhere, ask why. If it's on the paperwork, you can look it up in a couple of minutes.

A quick checklist before you sign

  • Get the business's registration number in writing.
  • Look it up on the Consumer Affairs site and confirm the name matches and the status is Active.
  • For new construction, check the builder number on the Community Affairs Home Builder Search.
  • Get the certificate of insurance and confirm it matches the business.
  • Read the written contract before signing. Our guide to what a NJ home improvement contract must include covers what to look for, and our list of red flags when hiring a contractor covers the warning signs.

Check us the same way

We'd rather you verify us than trust us. Look up 13VH14168400 on the State's site, look up builder registration 0058787 on the Community Affairs search, and ask for our certificate of insurance. Then call me for a free on-site consultation — I walk every job myself. Reach me at 908-370-6506 or info@ruleeconstruction.com, or use our contact page. I'll get back to you within one business day, two at most.

Common questions

Where do I check a New Jersey home improvement contractor's registration?

On the Division of Consumer Affairs verification site, https://newjersey.mylicense.com/verification/. Choose Business Search, select Home Improvement Contractors as the profession, and search by registration number (it starts with 13VH) or by business name.

What does it mean if a NJ contractor's registration shows Expired?

Registrations must be renewed by March 31 each year. A business that fails to renew is prohibited from selling or making home improvements in New Jersey, so don't sign until the record shows Active again.

What's the difference between a Home Improvement Contractor registration and a New Home Builder registration?

Home improvement registration covers work on existing homes and is checked with the Division of Consumer Affairs. New home builders register with the NJ Department of Community Affairs and can be checked on its Home Builder Search.

How much insurance must a NJ home improvement contractor carry?

Registered home improvement businesses must carry commercial general liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence, plus workers' compensation unless exempt by law. A copy of the liability certificate and the insurer's phone number must be part of any contract over $500.

About the author. Rui Reis is the owner of RuLee Construction LLC in Roselle Park, NJ, and walks every job himself. NJ Home Improvement Contractor registration 13VH14168400; NJ New Home Builder registration 0058787. More about Rui · Verify our registrations

General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed October 5, 2026.