New York: what the law says about your contract
3 New York rules, each quoted from the statute with its link and the date we checked it, after the federal rule that applies everywhere.
Your city or county (NYC: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection)
New York State does not license home improvement contractors; New York City and several counties do. Check your county consumer affairs office.
FTC Cooling-Off Rule (16 CFR 429)
Three business days to cancel in-home sales of $25 or more
“You, the buyer, may cancel this transaction at any time prior to midnight of the third business day after the date of this transaction.”
The rule covers sales of $25 or more made at your home, and $130 or more at a seller’s temporary location such as a hotel, fair or convention center. It applies even when you invited the salesperson in. The seller must give you two copies of a cancellation form, tell you about the right out loud, and refund within 10 business days of a valid cancellation.
16 CFR 429 · checked 2026-10-05The scope, in the rule’s words
“…which has a purchase price of $25 or more if the sale is made at the buyer’s residence or a purchase price of $130 or more if the sale is made at locations other than the buyer’s residence…”
Exceptions include sales negotiated at the seller’s permanent place of business, real estate, insurance and securities, and genuine emergencies you started where you sign a handwritten waiver.
FTC consumer guide to the ruleThe emergency exception
“In which the buyer has initiated the contact and the goods or services are needed to meet a bona fide immediate personal emergency of the buyer, and the buyer furnishes the seller with a separate dated and signed personal statement in the buyer’s handwriting describing the situation requiring immediate remedy and expressly acknowledging and waiving the right to cancel the sale within 3 business days…”
A pre-printed waiver handed to you by the seller is not this. The statement has to be in your own handwriting, for an emergency you asked them to fix.
16 CFR 429 §429.0What the law says, quoted with its source. Not legal advice: for your situation ask your state's contractor board or attorney general.
New York rules
Home improvement contracts over $500 must be in writing
“Every home improvement contract subject to the provisions of this article, and all amendments thereto, shall be evidenced by a writing and shall be signed by all the parties to the contract.”
In New York a home improvement contract over $500 must be written and signed, and must list approximate start and completion dates, the work, the materials (make and model where relevant) and the price.
N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law §771(1); §770(6) · checked 2026-10-05Three business days to cancel, wherever you sign
“A notice to the owner that, in addition to any right otherwise to revoke an offer, the owner may cancel the home improvement contract until midnight of the third business day after the day on which the owner has signed an agreement or offer to purchase relating to such contract.”
New York home improvement contracts must tell you that you can cancel until midnight of the third business day after signing. It does not apply when you started the contact for a genuine emergency and signed a handwritten waiver.
N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law §771(1)(h) · checked 2026-10-05Payments before completion go to escrow (or are bonded)
“…the home improvement contractor is legally required to deposit all payments received prior to completion in accordance with subdivision four of section seventy-one-a of the lien law and that, in lieu of such deposit, the home improvement contractor may post a bond, contract of indemnity or irrevocable letter of credit with the owner guaranteeing the return or proper application of such payments to the purposes of the contract.”
Money you pay before the job is finished must be held under the lien law (or covered by a bond or letter of credit). Ask where your deposit will be held.
N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law §771(1)(e) · checked 2026-10-05What the law says, quoted with its source. Not legal advice: for your situation ask your state's contractor board or attorney general.