Get Quotes from Top Carpenters in New York, NY

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Carpenter in New York City? 

Any individual who wishes to perform construction, repair, remodeling, or any other type of home improvement-related work on any residential land, building, or structure in New York City is required to possess a valid Home Improvement Contractor License. This license is issued by the city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), and individuals who violate this rule can face civil penalties of up to $500 in fines and other city-imposed sanctions.  

Licensing applications can be made online or by scheduling an appointment to file the application in person at any of the following locations: 

Appointments can be scheduled via email or by calling (212) 436-0441 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays. Note that applicants are expected to meet certain requirements, which include providing proof of insurance, paying licensing fees, sitting for a licensing examination, and submitting any necessary documents that may be requested by the DCWP. You can direct carpenter licensing queries to the DCWP by calling either 311 or (212) 639-9675. You can also confirm the licensing status of your preferred carpenter by utilizing this department’s Online Services Portal.  

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Carpenters in New York City? 

Before retaining the services of a carpenter in New York City, it is always a good idea to get estimates for your intended project from up to three different carpenters near you. This is because the cost of hiring a carpenter is affected by several factors, such as the nature and scope of your project, the cost of materials, and its labor intensity. Multiple estimates can help you determine an average rate for your project and protect you against possible fraudulent carpenters looking to overcharge you.  

A carpenter in New York City earns an annual average wage of $71,050. The table below provides a comparison of the mean hourly wage for carpenters in New York City against those of carpenters in the rest of New York State as well as across several other major American cities: 

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Do You Comply with the New York City Building Code for Carpentry Work? 

The New York City Building Code was designed to provide the minimum requirements and standards for building and construction regulation in the city to protect the health, public safety, and welfare of New Yorkers and their property. Knowledge of this code is an important quality to look out for when hiring carpenters, as it applies to all construction-related work performed in New York City, including carpentry. The provisions of this code for carpentry-related projects include specifying the acceptable quality of materials to be used for these projects as well as the necessary permits and inspections that the project in question may require.

Failing to comply with the provisions of the New York City Building Code as it relates to your carpentry project can result in severe city-imposed civil and criminal penalties. You can make inquiries concerning the New York City Building Code, its provisions, and its requirements for your project by contacting the NYC Department of Buildings at (212) 393-2550 or via email.     

Will You Get the Home Improvement Permits as Required by the New York City Code? 

Per Section 28-105.1 of the New York City Construction Codes, it is unlawful to carry out building or construction-related activity in the city without first obtaining a permit from the NYC Department of Buildings. Nevertheless, exemptions to this law are made under certain circumstances for some types of carpentry work. These include minor alterations and ordinary repairs like installing new kitchen cabinets and emergency work like the erection of fences or similar structures to protect members of the public from unsafe conditions.  

Building permit applications must be made online via the NYC Department of Buildings’ DOB Now: Build platform, and applicants can utilize the resources available on this platform to get assistance with submitting these applications.  Applicants can obtain either a New Building permit or an Alteration permit. Depending on the scope of the carpentry work involved, the submission of certain forms and documents, such as construction plans prepared by a state-licensed professional engineer or registered architect, may also be required. Note that after it issues the required building permits, the Department of Buildings may also conduct inspections of the carpentry project at various stages to make sure that it is being done in line with the city's building code.

You can get more information on the New York City permit issuing and carpentry work inspection process by contacting the Department of Buildings via phone number (212) 566-5000. These types of queries can also be made by contacting any of the Department of Buildings’ Borough Offices listed below: 

What Kind of Carpentry Services Do You Offer? 

New York City carpenters offer a wide range of carpentry services, and so you should always make sure that the one you intend to hire has the required skill set for your specific project. Services offered by carpenters in the city include rough carpentry services, which encompass carpentry work that is not typically seen once it is completed and finish carpentry services, which encompass more detailed carpentry work that is usually visible after completion.

In some cases, these carpenters may further specialize in specific areas of carpentry like decorative woodworking, new building carpentry work, furniture and cabinet making and repair, and maintenance-related carpentry work. As such, before hiring any carpenter near you, make sure that you confirm the type of carpentry work that this individual specializes in and whether or not the carpenter’s level of experience is enough to ensure proper service delivery.  

Listed below are average cost estimates for some common carpentry services available in New York City: 

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Carpenters in New York City? 

Carpentry is a highly hazardous profession, and in 2020 alone, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded more than 11,900 non-fatal occupational injuries among carpenters across the country. As such, the importance of ensuring that any carpenter you high is duly insured cannot be overstated. Working with insured carpenters affords you a measure of protection in the event of work-related injuries or other unforeseen circumstances, such as damage to your home and property that may occur whilst your project is ongoing.

Licensed contractors in New York City are typically required to meet certain insurance requirements, which include maintaining general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence, as well as workers’ compensation and disability insurance where necessary. You can confirm the insurance status of your intended carpenter by requesting copies of the carpenter’s insurance certificates and contacting the issuing insurance providers to confirm their validity. You can also contact the New York City Department of Buildings at (212) 566-5000 to make inquiries related to the mandatory insurance requirements for contractors in the city.