Suffolk seeks to raise fines as high as $10,000 for unlicensed contractors who fail to register on its 'Wall of Shame'
Aerial drone photo of a neighborhood in Suffolk County in February 2024. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
Home contractors operating without a license in Suffolk County could soon face stiffer penalties — a change lawmakers say will help protect consumers from bad actors placed in its so-called "Wall of Shame."
A proposed bill before Suffolk lawmakers would increase fines for contractors found guilty of a violation from $750 to $1,000 for a first offense and from $1,500 to $5,000 for subsequent offenses.
Legis. James Mazzarella (R-Moriches), the lead sponsor of the bill, said the legislation aims “to put more teeth” in the county code “to keep contractors thinking twice about breaking the law.”
“I’m hoping that $5,000 wakes people up,” he said.
The Suffolk Legislature’s Labor & Consumer Affairs Committee on Wednesday scheduled the bill for public hearing at the Aug. 5 general meeting in Riverhead. Lawmakers could vote to approve the bill following the public hearing.
The legislation also increases tenfold the fine for a contractor who fails to register for the Licensed Professions Wall of Shame — a registry the county's Department of Consumer Affairs has operated since 2012 as a way to raise public awareness of home contractors acting nefariously. Fines for failing to register would jump to $10,000, up from $1,000, according to the bill.
The proposed changes come a month after Newsday published an examination of the Wall of Shame, which currently includes 775 names, finding that while the registry can be a deterrent, repeat offenders often continue to operate even when facing fines and public scrutiny. Homeowners often uncover a contractor's inclusion on the registry only after problems arise.
“Any business that takes advantage of a consumer in Suffolk County should be held accountable, and this legislation will help the county ensure that any unscrupulous business that does not adhere to the county’s laws will indeed pay the price for breaking those laws,” said Michael Martino, spokesman for County Executive Edward P. Romaine, in an email to Newsday.
James Andrews, who oversees complaints as administrative director for consumer affairs, told Newsday at a legislative committee meeting earlier this year he believes the penalties should increase.
The bill states that "the majority of persons engaged in occupations licensed and regulated by the County are upstanding businesspeople," but further legislation is needed for those who "continue to operate without or obtaining a license, continue to operate after having the license revoked, or fail to conduct business appropriately."
Legis. Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon), the minority leader, said increasing the fines "makes sense." He said the county should take a wider look at fines that may have remained unchanged in recent years.
Mazzarella, whose co-sponsors of the bill include Legis. Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue) and Legis. Chad Lennon (R-Rocky Point), said the legislation's second component revises the application procedure.
Under the revisions, the applicant would be required to disclose the names of other “individual owners, partners, officers, members and/or directors of the applicant,” according to the bill.
“They’re going to have to provide more information about their company,” Mazzarella said.
He added that will make it harder for a contractor who ends up on the Wall of Shame to “back away and then let the partner do business under another name.”
The legislation also tweaks language in the code from "home improvement contractors" to a more expansive description of anyone required to be licensed for such type of work by the Suffolk County.
Mazzarella said part of lawmakers’ motivation is to draw attention to licensing procedures and "change the thinking of some of these contractors."
County officials urge homeowners hiring a contractor to verify that the individual or business is licensed. Residents can search names and businesses at ca.suffolkcountyny.gov/dcasearch and find the Wall of Shame at suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/Consumer-Affairs/Wall-of-Shame.
Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.
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