By FrumNews.com

Rockland County’s Legislature shocked the county by voting 14-1 to approve a controversial update to the county’s Home Improvement Contractors’ Law, earlier this month, which loosens restrictions on home improvement contractor licensing.

The contentious changes to the law drew a large crowd at a public meeting, with tensions running high as homeowners, contractors and others voiced their opinions.

Rockland County, with over 350,000 residents, currently has 2,844 licensed home improvement contractors, including landscapers, fence installers and excavators, who account for a significant number of license holders.

According to the legislature, the law updates regulations that have seen few significant changes since 1984. The overhaul aligns Rockland’s rules with those used in Westchester County and aims to streamline licensing and strengthen consumer protections.

Several major changes include moving decisions on contractor licenses from the Home Improvement Licensing Board to the Director of Consumer Protection, turning the board into a strictly advisory body. As well as opening up competition to contractors from outside of Rockland County. Contractors who have been licensed in other jurisdictions for at least five years and have no consumer protection complaints can now automatically obtain a Rockland license.

Advocates and Opponents: Who’s Who?

Such a law pits many against each other: large local contractors who want less regulation; mom-and-pop contractors, who don’t want competition; statewide and national contractors, who don’t want added restrictions on entering the Rockland market; homeowners, who want both lower costs and better quality; and others.

Advocates, including many contractors, for the rules, said the current rules put in place in the 1980s were too burdensome. Legislator Itamar Yeger, the bill’s sponsor, said the home improvement contractor licensing rules were crafted to better reflect the job’s needs and better protect homeowners.

“Nothing in this law gives the Legislature new powers over licensing decisions, and the volunteer Board continues to play an important advisory role,” Rockland County Legislator Itamar Yeger argued. “These changes modernize a system that hadn’t been updated in decades, making it fairer, faster, and more transparent for everyone involved.”

Opponents, which include including County Executive Ed Day, decried the move, saying it loosens the rules in place that protect homeowners and keep the county safe.

“The County Legislature led the process of revising Rockland’s Home Improvement Law, Majority and Minority legislators met with staff from my administration and, after much discussion and significant modifications, reached a compromise.” County Executive Ed Day said in a statement ahead of the vote. “While I still need to review this legislation after it is voted on, I support this bipartisan and collaborative process and look forward to reviewing it,” County Executive Ed Day said in a statement ahead of the vote.

Under the new law, home improvement contractors will still be required to hold a valid county license. However, the authority to grant or deny that license will shift from the Home Improvement Licensing Board to the Director of the Rockland County Office of Consumer Protection. The Licensing Board, which meets monthly and comprises volunteer experts from various home improvement fields, will continue to serve in an advisory role, offering guidance and recommendations to the Director.

Legislature leaders said its role under the new law remains unchanged as the body that hears appeals. “The Legislature does not participate in granting, denying, suspending, or revoking licenses. It continues solely as the body that hears appeals from aggrieved parties and retains its existing authority to approve or reject proposed Rules and Regulations.”

“There has been a lot of misinformation circulating about this update, but the truth is simple: this law was adopted to make things better for both contractors and consumers,” Rockland County Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. said. “It streamlines the licensing process, establishes clear timelines, strengthens protections for homeowners, and ensures qualified contractors can get to work without unnecessary delays.”

For the first time, the county must respond to licensing applications within 45 days. If the county fails to notify an applicant of missing paperwork or other issues regarding the application within that period, the license is automatically deemed approved. Any denial must include specific reasons and notice of the contractor’s right to appeal.

“There’s nothing wrong with reforming and modernizing,” Robert Zitt, a contractor, told Lohud at the public hearing, but it “comes at the cost of safety.”

More Details

The law also enhances consumer protections by requiring general contractors to use only licensed and properly insured subcontractors; reaffirming that all contractors must carry liability insurance and NY state-required workers’ compensation and disability insurance, with suspension possible for noncompliance; and adding new violations for failing to meet contract standards, including providing written three‑day cancellation rights. Contractors who arrange financing for projects face new compliance rules.

Several measures will streamline the licensing process, including eliminating the decal requirement for personal vehicles, creating simplified licensing pathways, and allowing contractors licensed elsewhere for at least five years with no complaints to apply through an expedited process.

The new law requires a bond for contractors who use the simplified application pathway, providing financial protection for homeowners and ensuring that work is completed.

The update follows concerns raised by contractors who reported long delays and inconsistent outcomes in the current licensing process. It also addresses the top complaint from homeowners – that they are out of money because a job wasn’t completed or was done incorrectly. As with any major update, adjustments and refinements may be made in the months ahead to ensure the law continues to work as intended for the entire community.