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Blog · October 20, 2026

Do you need your license or registration number on your website? MA, CT and NY

4 min read

Short answer: in Massachusetts and Connecticut, the law says your home improvement registration number goes in your advertising, and a website is very likely advertising. New York works differently, because licensing there is mostly local.

This is general information, not legal advice. Check with the state or a lawyer before you rely on it.

Massachusetts

Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration. Massachusetts regulates home improvement contractors under M.G.L. c. 142A. Among the practices that chapter prohibits (section 17, clause 8) is “publishing, directly or indirectly, any advertisement relating to home construction or home improvements which does not contain the contractor’s or subcontractor’s certificate of registration number.”

Clause 9 also prohibits advertising that a person is registered unless the ad includes “an accurate reference to the contractor’s or subcontractor’s certificate of registration.”

Does a website count? The regulation 201 CMR 18.00 defines “advertisement” broadly. According to the summary we read, it covers web pages, web ads, mobile applications, listing sites and vehicle signs. Read the definition yourself in the regulation linked below before relying on it.

Contracts. Section 2 of c. 142A requires a written residential contract over $1,000 to include the contractor’s registration number.

Penalty. According to the same summary, 201 CMR 18.04 allows a fine of up to $2,000, up to a year in jail, or both, for a knowing and willful violation where no greater penalty applies. Check the regulation for the exact wording.

Construction Supervisor License (CSL). This is a separate license. Under 780 CMR 110.R5, as summarized on Mass.gov, the person who supervises construction work covered by the state building code must be licensed, and local officials may add requirements. We did not find a rule on showing a CSL number in advertising, so we make no claim about it.

Connecticut

Home improvement contractor registration. Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) registers home improvement contractors. DCP advises that the written contract include the contractor’s registration number and that the number be verified at elicense.ct.gov.

Advertising. Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-427(a)(1) says each person making home improvements must “state in any advertisement the fact that such person is registered” and “include such person’s registration number in any advertisement.” A narrow exception in subdivision (2) covers large publicly traded companies that advertise in several states. It is unlikely to apply to a local contractor.

Does a website count? The statute says “any advertisement,” which is wide. We did not find the state’s definition of “advertisement” in the sources we could read. If you are unsure, ask DCP (the address in DCP’s materials is DCP.HomeImprovement@ct.gov).

Trade licenses. DCP’s guide, as summarized in our search, says the home improvement registration is not needed if you hold a state trade license and the work falls within that license. Confirm the details with DCP.

New York

No single statewide registration that we could find. We did not find a statewide home improvement contractor registration in New York like those in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Rules are set locally, so what applies to you depends on where you work.

  • New York City. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) says “A person or business must have a Home Improvement Contractor license” to do construction, repair or remodeling on residential land or buildings in the city. We did not find a DCWP page that states a rule for advertising, so ask DCWP.
  • Nassau County. Its Department of Consumer Affairs “issues licenses to contractors conducting home improvement business in Nassau County.” Its “Who Must Be Licensed” page lists roofing, HVAC, paving, fences and more. It does not say whether the number must appear in advertising.
  • Westchester County. The county’s consumer protection notice to contractors says the licensee “must provide the home improvement contractor’s license number in all advertisements,” and on contracts, invoices, proposals and letterhead.
  • Suffolk and elsewhere. We could not confirm Suffolk’s rules, or those of other localities, from an official source. Check with the county, town or city clerk.

Statewide contract rule. New York General Business Law section 771 says a home improvement contract must include the contractor’s name, address, telephone number and “license number, if applicable.”

What to do on your website

  1. Put your registration or license number in the footer of every page, in plain text, near your business name.
  2. Use the exact number your state or county gave you, and check it against the official lookup.
  3. If you work in several jurisdictions, list each number that applies.
  4. Use the same number on your trucks, cards and Google Business Profile.

Next step

Northeast Sites builds websites for contractors in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York. Rules change, so please verify yours with the state or county before you publish.

Sources

All accessed 2026-10-20.

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