Get Quotes from Top Painters in New York, NY

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

The United States Environmental Protection Agency requires all individuals who wish to perform certain home repair and improvement activities on pre-1978 homes and child-occupied facilities in New York City to undergo mandatory lead-safe work practices training and certification. These activities include painting, surface repairs and maintenance, and any other activities that involve the disturbance of more than 6 square feet of interior surface or 20 square feet of exterior surface. At the local level, all individuals who provide any construction, repair, remodeling, and home improvement-related services in New York City are required to obtain a Home Improvement Contractor License from the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP).  

Painters who wish to obtain this locally issued Home Improvement Contractor License are required to submit certain documents, which include an application form, proof of local tax registration, proof of insurance, and proof of EPA certification. Applicants will also be required to pay stipulated examination and licensing fees, pass a DCWP-administered licensing examination, and meet any other requirements that the DCWP may deem necessary at the time.  

Providing painting services or any other form of home improvement-related services in New York City without possessing a valid Home Improvement Contractor License is punishable by city-imposed sanctions and penalties, including fines of up to $500. You can direct inquiries on NYC painter licensing to the DCWP via phone numbers 311 or (212) 639-9675. You can also verify that your intended painter possesses a valid Home Improvement Contractor License by making use of the DCWP’s Online Services Portal.      

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

Several factors affect the rates that painters in New York City charge for their services. These include, but are not limited to, the size of the surface that requires painting, the amount of work required to prepare this surface for the painting properly, and the type and cost of the paint to be used for the job. To get a fair estimate of the cost of your painting project, you should consider requesting bids from up to three different painters near you and comparing these bids. This is also an excellent way to protect yourself from unscrupulous contractors that practice price gouging.  

A painter in New York City earns an annual average wage of $58,360. The table below provides the hourly mean wage of painters in New York City and compares this with the wages of painters in other parts of New York State and several other major cities in the United States: 

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

What Kind of Painting Services Do You Offer? 

Painting generally involves a wide range of services, so it is necessary to ensure that your intended painter has the skill set to perform the specific services your project requires. Some common painting services that New York City painters offer include wallpaper hanging and removal, interior and exterior wall painting, surface preparation and power washing, and staining.

In some cases, these painters may further specialize in working on particular types of buildings and structures, with some painters sticking to residential buildings and others focusing on painting commercial and industrial facilities. As such, you should always make sure that your preferred painter is not only licensed but also properly trained and equipped to handle the specific nature of your project.  

Listed below are cost estimates of some common NYC painting services: 

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

Painters routinely face numerous on-the-job hazards, such as slips, trips, falls, and exposure to dangerous substances. Therefore, the importance of hiring a licensed and insured painter cannot be overstated. Working with a properly insured painter ensures that you do not have to make any out-of-pocket expenses if a work-related injury occurs during your project. This general liability insurance also covers the cost of any damages that the painter may cause to your property during the project.  

All licensed contractors who wish to provide their services to residents of New York City are typically required to maintain general liability insurance of a minimum of $1,000,000 per occurrence and meet other applicable insurance requirements. To this end, you should always request proof of this insurance from your intended painter and authenticate it with the appropriate insurance company. It is also advisable to contact the NYC Department of Buildings at (212) 566-5000 to get more information on the specific insurance requirements that may apply to painters who wish to work on your project.