Southold Town is looking into imposing a local licensing requirement on contractors operating within the town in the hopes of cracking down on “ad hoc” contractors operating without the required Suffolk County permits.
Supervisor Scott Russell says he’s fielded complaints from licensed local contractors about unlicensed contractors — especially landscapers — who operate all-cash businesses and undercut their prices.
“The licensed landscapers feel they can’t be competitive,” Russell said.
“Suffolk County hasn’t provided much enforcement,” according to Russell, who suggested at Tuesday’s town board work session that the town look into imposing a local licensing requirement that can be enforced locally.
A Suffolk County spokesperson could not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Other towns have license requirements, Russell said.
The issue is one the Southold Trustees “have been wrestling with for years” with marine contractors, said Councilwoman Jill Doherty, a former trustee.
Councilman Bob Ghosio, who holds several county home improvement contractor licenses for his business operations, said the county does enforce the requirement if they know someone is violating the code. “I know they will,” Ghosio said. “It’s hard to enforce against something you don’t know exists unless there’s a complaint.”
Consumer awareness is important too, he said. “I know I not only get asked for my license but also, now more and more, a hold harmless,” Ghosio said.
Suffolk County law requires contractors engaged in the home improvement contracting businesses within Suffolk County to obtain a license from the county’s Department of Consumer Affairs. To obtain a license, the contractor must first pass a written examination and must also comply with other requirements such as obtaining liability and worker’s compensation insurance, providing a tax ID number, providing a surety bond, and having a satisfactory background check.
Violators of the county code provisions face stiff penalties, which can be imposed by the department in administrative hearings. Unlicensed contractors can also face criminal prosecution in court; the law makes it a misdemeanor to conduct a home improvement business in Suffolk without the required license, punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 per violation or imprisonment of up to one year, or both.
There are currently more than 500 active home improvement licenses registered to addresses within the Town of Southold, according to county records available online.
The county’s website allows consumers to search the county’s database of licensed home improvement contractors.
Information on how to file a complaint is available here
