License check
How to check a generator installer's license in Suffolk or Nassau
A license number takes a minute to check and tells you the company can legally do the work. Here is who issues it in each county, where to look it up, and what else to ask, from the official pages we read on 2026-11-03.
What New York State and federal rules say
- New York's Division of Building Standards and Codes does not license generator installers: its FAQ says licensing of contractors or electricians is not handled by the division.
In Suffolk County
- Suffolk County Consumer Affairs licenses the electricians who hook up standby generators, and Master Electrician and Restricted Electrical are both among its license types.
- Suffolk's home improvement law excludes work in the electrical and plumbing fields, so a home improvement license alone does not cover a generator's wiring.
- Natural Gas and LP Gas are both Restricted Plumbing categories on Suffolk's restricted license application.
- 1Step 1In Suffolk's License and Complaint Violation Look Up, the license types to pick for a generator electrician are Master Electrical License and Restricted Electrical License.
- 2Step 2If a plumber is running the generator's gas line, the same lookup also searches Master Plumbing License and Restricted Plumbing License.
- 3Step 3Consumer Affairs confirms a Suffolk generator installer's license by phone at (631) 853-4600.
In Nassau County
- In Nassau, plumbers and electricians, including those who install standby generators, are licensed by the cities, towns and villages, county Consumer Affairs says.
- Nassau's home improvement license law does not reach a licensed electrician or plumber whose generator work stays within the scope of that trade license.
Towns with a license of their own
- Town of Oyster Bay: Any electrician working in the Town must hold a Town license, and residents can call to find out whether an electrician they are considering is licensed.
- City of Long Beach: In Long Beach, only an electrician licensed by the City may do a standby generator's electrical work, and the homeowner may not do it.
- Town of Huntington: Any gas work in the Town must be done by a plumber licensed by the Town of Huntington.
- Town of Shelter Island: Shelter Island's notice to contractors says every contractor or subcontractor working on the island, landscapers included, needs a town license.
Beyond the license
- Ask for a certificate of insurance sent to you by the insurer, naming you as the certificate holder.
- Ask who files the permit and books the inspections, and get it in the contract.
- Get the price, the scope, the start and finish dates and the payment schedule in a written contract.
Related
Questions homeowners ask
Do I need a permit for a standby generator on Long Island?
Many towns require one, and the electrical and gas work need inspections. The town pages below quote each town's own rules, including where a generator may sit.
Who installs a standby generator?
A licensed electrician handles the electrical connection, and the gas or propane line needs the trade the town requires for fuel piping.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these official pages. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the office before you file anything.
- NYS Department of State, Division of Building Standards and Codes FAQ (read 2026-11-03)
- Suffolk County Consumer Affairs, Licensing and Enforcement (read 2026-11-03)
- Suffolk County Consumer Affairs, Home Improvement License Law (PDF) (read 2026-11-03; page dated 5/25)
- Suffolk County Consumer Affairs, Restricted License Application (CA-L11) (read 2026-11-03; page dated 3/26)
- Suffolk County, License and Complaint Violation Look Up (read 2026-11-03)
- Nassau County Consumer Affairs, Plumber and Electrician Complaints (read 2026-11-03)
- Nassau County, Administrative Code (PDF) (read 2026-11-03; page dated January 1, 2026)
- Town of Oyster Bay, Examining Board of Electricians (read 2026-11-03)
- City of Long Beach, Building Department (read 2026-11-03)
- Town of Huntington, Generator Permit (read 2026-11-03)
- Town of Shelter Island, Notice to All Contractors (read 2026-11-03)
Checked 2026-11-03. Facts come only from the official pages listed, read on that date.
Talk the job through before you call anyone
Tell us about the house and the job in about four minutes. Revival calls you, free, to go over the scope, the budget, the timing and your town's permit office. Contractor matches open as our first licensed partners sign.