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Financial Advisor

Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractors Bonds

Please find below new Regulations to take effect April 1, 2025

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As amended, the CBRA, among other things, now requires Home Improvement Contractor Businesses and Home Elevation Contractor Businesses (“HICBs/HECBs”) (formerly “HICs/HECs”), to maintain workers’ compensation insurance, unless exempt under law, and to obtain to a compliance bond, letter of credit, or other security (“additional security”), discussed below. HICBs/HECBs must also still maintain commercial general liability insurance as well, as was already required. Thus, effective immediately, in order to obtain, renew or reinstate a registration, all HICBs and HECBs must have:

 

1) workers’ compensation insurance, unless exempt; 2) an
additional security; and 3) commercial general liability insurance in a minimum amount of $500,000 per occurrence for HICBs and $1,000,000 per occurrence for HECBs, as previously required by law.


With respect to the new workers’ compensation insurance requirement, please see N.J.S.A 34:15-1 et seq., to determine if you may be exempt. You may also wish to review the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development guide here:

 

https://www.nj.gov/labor/workerscompensation/assets/PDFs/Forms/WC-373.pdf


With respect to the new additional security requirement, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 56:8-142, all HICBs and HECBs must maintain additional security in the form of a compliance bond, irrevocable letter of credit, or securities, money or other security. The principal sum of the additional security must be a minimum of:


1. $50,000 for the performance of services pursuant to a contract valued at more than $120,000 or for the performance of services, in the previous 12 months, for contracts valued at a minimum of$750,000;


2. $25,000 for the performance of services pursuant to a contract valued between $10,000 and $120,000 or for the performance of services, in the previous 12 months, for contracts valued between $150,000 and $750,000; 


3. $10,000 for the performance of services pursuant to a contract valued at less than $10,000 or for the performance of services, in the previous 12 months, for contracts valued less than $150,000. 


Existing registrations will expire on March 31, 2025; renewal applications will available in January 2025. The registration renewal portal can be found here: 


https://newjersey.mylicense.com/eGov/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2feGov%2fLogin
 

As part of the renewal process you will be asked to submit proof that you are in compliance with the law, including having workers’ compensation insurance (unless exempt), having the required additional security, and having the required commercial general liability insurance and other insurances, as applicable. You are advised to take steps now to obtain any coverage or additional security you may not presently have. The failure to do so may delay or result in the denial of the renewal of your registration. 

Important Notice
Any submissions or payments made via this website do not constitute a binding agreement to your policy or coverage(s). Changes and payments to policies are not effective or binding until you, or any party involved, receive official notice from either your insurance agent, or your insurance company. 

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Are you in compliance with the NEW guidelines for Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractors Bonds required by STATE OF NJ for licensing – we can write these for you!!!    

 

The State of NJ now requires all home improvement and home elevation contractors to provide a surety bond with limits of $10,000, $25,000 or $50,000 depending on the size of the contractor’s contracts.  BHI Insurance can help with these requirements.  Please contact us at your earliest convenience to begin the process.

On January 8, 2024, Governor Murphy signed into law P.L. 2023, c. 237, which: amended the Contractors’
Business Registration Act (“CBRA,” formerly the “Contractors’ Registration Act”), N.J.S.A. 56:8-136 et seq.;
created the “Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractor Licensing Act,” N.J.S.A. 45:5AAA-1 et seq.; and
established the New Jersey State Board of Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractors. 

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