[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":1042},["ShallowReactive",2],{"content-\u002Fblog\u002Ffreelance-isnt-free-act":3},{"_path":4,"_dir":5,"_draft":6,"_partial":6,"_locale":7,"title":8,"description":9,"createdAt":10,"updatedAt":11,"primaryKeyword":12,"author":13,"tags":16,"takeaways":22,"related":27,"faq":40,"readingTime":62,"body":67,"_type":1036,"_id":1037,"_source":1038,"_file":1039,"_stem":1040,"_extension":1041},"\u002Fblog\u002Ffreelance-isnt-free-act","blog",false,"","NYC Freelance Isn't Free Act: what it requires, and where the official links went","A plain-English guide to NYC's Freelance Isn't Free Act: the $800 written-contract rule, the 30-day payment default, damages, deadlines and the current nyc.gov complaint links.","2026-10-17T12:00:00.000Z","2026-10-22T12:00:00.000Z","freelance isn't free act",{"name":14,"role":15},"Simon Dziak","Founder, Workspace369",[17,18,19,20,21],"freelance law","New York City","contracts","getting paid","freelancers",[23,24,25,26],"In New York City, a freelance contract worth $800 or more, or several contracts with the same client that reach $800 within 120 days, must be in writing, per the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP).","Every freelancer must be paid on time and in full, whatever the contract's value. Payment is due on the contract's date, or within 30 days after the work is done if the contract gives none.","A court can award double damages for late or missing payment, $250 when a client refuses a written contract, and attorneys' fees, per DCWP's FAQ.","The old DCWP PDFs of the law and the complaint form now return 404. The law text lives in the NYC Administrative Code (Title 20, Chapter 10), and complaints are filed online.",[28,31,34,37],{"title":29,"path":30},"Free freelance contract template (PDF and Word)","\u002Ftemplates\u002Ffreelance-contract",{"title":32,"path":33},"Freelancer and independent contractor statistics","\u002Fresearch\u002Ffreelancer-independent-contractor-statistics",{"title":35,"path":36},"Freelance contract generator","\u002Ftools\u002Ffreelance-contract-template",{"title":38,"path":39},"Late fee calculator","\u002Ftools\u002Flate-fee-calculator",[41,44,47,50,53,56,59],{"question":42,"answer":43},"What is the Freelance Isn't Free Act?","It is a New York City law, Local Law 140 of 2016, that took effect on May 15, 2017. It gives freelancers the right to a written contract for work worth $800 or more, the right to be paid on time and in full, and protection from retaliation, according to DCWP's five-year report on the law.",{"question":45,"answer":46},"Does the law apply to contracts under $800?","The written-contract rule starts at $800, or $800 across contracts with the same client in 120 days. The right to be paid on time and in full applies to every contract, including ones under $800 and oral agreements, per DCWP.",{"question":48,"answer":49},"When must a client pay a freelancer in NYC?","On or before the payment date in the contract. If the contract does not set a date or a way to set one, the client must pay no later than 30 days after the freelancer finishes the work, per DCWP's FAQ.",{"question":51,"answer":52},"Where do I file a Freelance Isn't Free complaint?","Online through DCWP's worker complaint portal, by calling 311 and saying \"Freelance Workers\", or by emailing freelancer@dcwp.nyc.gov. The old PDF complaint form on nyc.gov now returns 404.",{"question":54,"answer":55},"How long do I have to file?","Two years from the violation to complain to DCWP. In court, two years for a missing written contract, and six years for non-payment, underpayment or retaliation, per DCWP's FAQ.",{"question":57,"answer":58},"Is there a New York State version?","Yes. The New York State Department of Labor says the Freelance Isn't Free Act added Article 44-A to the General Business Law on August 28, 2024. The state Attorney General takes complaints, and the Department of Labor publishes a model contract.",{"question":60,"answer":61},"Is this legal advice?","No. It is a summary of what DCWP and the New York State Department of Labor publish, checked on October 22, 2026. DCWP itself cannot give legal advice. For your own situation, talk to a lawyer; DCWP publishes a legal referral list.",{"text":63,"minutes":64,"time":65,"words":66},"8 min read",7.07,424200,1414,{"type":68,"children":69,"toc":1022},"root",[70,87,100,107,163,169,174,367,381,387,400,412,450,455,461,488,522,527,548,554,573,578,608,613,619,630,636,648,740,758,764,769,823,834,850,868,873,879,891,942,948,971,977,1005],{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":73,"children":74},"element","p",{},[75,78,85],{"type":76,"value":77},"text","New York City's Freelance Isn't Free Act turned \"please pay me\" into a legal right. Since May 15, 2017, a freelancer in NYC has the right to a ",{"type":71,"tag":79,"props":80,"children":82},"a",{"href":81},"\u002Fsolutions\u002Fcontract-and-invoice-software-for-freelancers\u002F",[83],{"type":76,"value":84},"written contract",{"type":76,"value":86}," for work worth $800 or more and the right to be paid on time and in full. A client who pays late or not at all can face double damages. This guide covers what the law requires, what it lets you recover and how to complain, with every fact linked to official city and state pages.",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":88,"children":89},{},[90,92,98],{"type":76,"value":91},"If you followed a link here from an older article: the city has retired the PDFs most articles linked to. Both the law text PDF and the PDF complaint form now return 404. ",{"type":71,"tag":79,"props":93,"children":95},{"href":94},"#where-the-official-links-went",[96],{"type":76,"value":97},"Their current homes are in the table below",{"type":76,"value":99},".",{"type":71,"tag":101,"props":102,"children":104},"h2",{"id":103},"quick-answer",[105],{"type":76,"value":106},"Quick answer",{"type":71,"tag":108,"props":109,"children":110},"ul",{},[111,123,133,143,153],{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":113,"children":114},"li",{},[115,121],{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":117,"children":118},"strong",{},[119],{"type":76,"value":120},"Written contract:",{"type":76,"value":122}," required for work worth $800 or more, including several contracts with the same client that add up to $800 within 120 days.",{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":124,"children":125},{},[126,131],{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":127,"children":128},{},[129],{"type":76,"value":130},"What it must say:",{"type":76,"value":132}," both names and mailing addresses, the services, their value, the rate and method of pay, and the payment date (or how it is set).",{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":134,"children":135},{},[136,141],{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":137,"children":138},{},[139],{"type":76,"value":140},"Payment:",{"type":76,"value":142}," due on the contract date, or within 30 days after the work is complete if the contract gives no date. This applies to every contract, of any value.",{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":144,"children":145},{},[146,151],{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":147,"children":148},{},[149],{"type":76,"value":150},"Remedies:",{"type":76,"value":152}," double damages for unpaid or late pay, $250 if a client refuses a written contract, damages for retaliation, and attorneys' fees.",{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":154,"children":155},{},[156,161],{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":157,"children":158},{},[159],{"type":76,"value":160},"Complaints:",{"type":76,"value":162}," online with DCWP, by 311 or by email, within two years, or go straight to court.",{"type":71,"tag":101,"props":164,"children":166},{"id":165},"where-the-official-links-went",[167],{"type":76,"value":168},"Where the official links went",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":170,"children":171},{},[172],{"type":76,"value":173},"Most articles from 2016 to 2019 link to two DCWP PDFs under nyc.gov\u002Fassets\u002Fdca\u002Fdownloads\u002Fpdf\u002F. Both now return 404 (checked October 17, 2026). These are the official replacements:",{"type":71,"tag":175,"props":176,"children":177},"table",{},[178,202],{"type":71,"tag":179,"props":180,"children":181},"thead",{},[182],{"type":71,"tag":183,"props":184,"children":185},"tr",{},[186,192,197],{"type":71,"tag":187,"props":188,"children":189},"th",{},[190],{"type":76,"value":191},"What you were linking to",{"type":71,"tag":187,"props":193,"children":194},{},[195],{"type":76,"value":196},"Current official source",{"type":71,"tag":187,"props":198,"children":199},{},[200],{"type":76,"value":201},"Old PDF (now 404)",{"type":71,"tag":203,"props":204,"children":205},"tbody",{},[206,238,267,290,314,345],{"type":71,"tag":183,"props":207,"children":208},{},[209,215,228],{"type":71,"tag":210,"props":211,"children":212},"td",{},[213],{"type":76,"value":214},"The law 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section numbers come from DCWP's ",{"type":71,"tag":79,"props":373,"children":376},{"href":374,"rel":375},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nyc.gov\u002Fassets\u002Fdca\u002Fdownloads\u002Fpdf\u002Fworkers\u002FDCWP-Freelance-Isnt-Free-Act-Five-YearReport-2023.pdf",[222],[377],{"type":76,"value":378},"five-year report on the law",{"type":76,"value":380},". 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That depends on the circumstances, such as whether part of the work happened in the city or the hiring party has significant operations there.",{"type":71,"tag":101,"props":456,"children":458},{"id":457},"the-written-contract",[459],{"type":76,"value":460},"The written contract",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":462,"children":463},{},[464,466,471,473,478,480,486],{"type":76,"value":465},"A contract worth ",{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":467,"children":468},{},[469],{"type":76,"value":470},"$800 or more",{"type":76,"value":472}," must be in writing, and so must several contracts with the same client that reach $800 within ",{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":474,"children":475},{},[476],{"type":76,"value":477},"120 days",{"type":76,"value":479}," (",{"type":71,"tag":79,"props":481,"children":483},{"href":280,"rel":482},[222],[484],{"type":76,"value":485},"DCWP",{"type":76,"value":487},"). 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Any term that tries to waive the freelancer's rights under the law is invalid, and so is any term that limits the freelancer's right to talk about the contract or to complain.",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":528,"children":529},{},[530,532,538,540,546],{"type":76,"value":531},"If you need a starting point, DCWP publishes a ",{"type":71,"tag":79,"props":533,"children":535},{"href":327,"rel":534},[222],[536],{"type":76,"value":537},"model contract",{"type":76,"value":539},". Our ",{"type":71,"tag":79,"props":541,"children":543},{"href":542},"\u002Ftemplates\u002Ffreelance-contract\u002F",[544],{"type":76,"value":545},"free freelance contract template",{"type":76,"value":547}," (PDF and Word) has a place for each of the six items. Neither one replaces advice for your situation.",{"type":71,"tag":101,"props":549,"children":551},{"id":550},"getting-paid-on-time",[552],{"type":76,"value":553},"Getting paid on time",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":555,"children":556},{},[557,559,564,565,571],{"type":76,"value":558},"The client must pay on or before the date in the contract. 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That includes blacklisting or refusing future work because you complained (",{"type":71,"tag":79,"props":625,"children":627},{"href":280,"rel":626},[222],[628],{"type":76,"value":485},{"type":76,"value":572},{"type":71,"tag":101,"props":631,"children":633},{"id":632},"what-a-court-can-award",[634],{"type":76,"value":635},"What a court can award",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":637,"children":638},{},[639,641,646],{"type":76,"value":640},"According to ",{"type":71,"tag":79,"props":642,"children":644},{"href":358,"rel":643},[222],[645],{"type":76,"value":397},{"type":76,"value":647},":",{"type":71,"tag":175,"props":649,"children":650},{},[651,667],{"type":71,"tag":179,"props":652,"children":653},{},[654],{"type":71,"tag":183,"props":655,"children":656},{},[657,662],{"type":71,"tag":187,"props":658,"children":659},{},[660],{"type":76,"value":661},"If the client...",{"type":71,"tag":187,"props":663,"children":664},{},[665],{"type":76,"value":666},"A judge may order the client to pay",{"type":71,"tag":203,"props":668,"children":669},{},[670,688,704,722],{"type":71,"tag":183,"props":671,"children":672},{},[673,678],{"type":71,"tag":210,"props":674,"children":675},{},[676],{"type":76,"value":677},"Did not pay the agreed amount by the due date (or within 30 days of completion, if no date)",{"type":71,"tag":210,"props":679,"children":680},{},[681,686],{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":682,"children":683},{},[684],{"type":76,"value":685},"Double damages",{"type":76,"value":687}," (twice the amount owed), plus injunctive relief and other remedies",{"type":71,"tag":183,"props":689,"children":690},{},[691,696],{"type":71,"tag":210,"props":692,"children":693},{},[694],{"type":76,"value":695},"Refused a written contract, with no other violation",{"type":71,"tag":210,"props":697,"children":698},{},[699],{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":700,"children":701},{},[702],{"type":76,"value":703},"$250",{"type":71,"tag":183,"props":705,"children":706},{},[707,712],{"type":71,"tag":210,"props":708,"children":709},{},[710],{"type":76,"value":711},"Failed to use a written contract and also broke another part of the law",{"type":71,"tag":210,"props":713,"children":714},{},[715,717],{"type":76,"value":716},"Damages equal to the ",{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":718,"children":719},{},[720],{"type":76,"value":721},"value of the contract",{"type":71,"tag":183,"props":723,"children":724},{},[725,730],{"type":71,"tag":210,"props":726,"children":727},{},[728],{"type":76,"value":729},"Retaliated against the freelancer",{"type":71,"tag":210,"props":731,"children":732},{},[733,734,738],{"type":76,"value":716},{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":735,"children":736},{},[737],{"type":76,"value":721},{"type":76,"value":739},", for each act of retaliation",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":741,"children":742},{},[743,745,750,752,757],{"type":76,"value":744},"A judge may also award reasonable ",{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":746,"children":747},{},[748],{"type":76,"value":749},"attorneys' fees and costs",{"type":76,"value":751},". 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Filing in court first means DCWP can no longer take your complaint.",{"type":71,"tag":489,"props":770,"children":771},{},[772,803,813],{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":773,"children":774},{},[775,780,782,788,790,796,797,802],{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":776,"children":777},{},[778],{"type":76,"value":779},"File with DCWP",{"type":76,"value":781}," ",{"type":71,"tag":79,"props":783,"children":785},{"href":251,"rel":784},[222],[786],{"type":76,"value":787},"online",{"type":76,"value":789},", by calling 311 and saying \"Freelance Workers\" (212-NEW-YORK from outside the city), or by emailing ",{"type":71,"tag":79,"props":791,"children":793},{"href":792},"mailto:freelancer@dcwp.nyc.gov",[794],{"type":76,"value":795},"freelancer@dcwp.nyc.gov",{"type":76,"value":479},{"type":71,"tag":79,"props":798,"children":800},{"href":280,"rel":799},[222],[801],{"type":76,"value":485},{"type":76,"value":572},{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":804,"children":805},{},[806,811],{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":807,"children":808},{},[809],{"type":76,"value":810},"DCWP notifies the client",{"type":76,"value":812},", who has 20 days to respond. DCWP then sends you the response, or tells you there wasn't one.",{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":814,"children":815},{},[816,821],{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":817,"children":818},{},[819],{"type":76,"value":820},"If it isn't resolved, you can sue.",{"type":76,"value":822}," If the client did not respond to DCWP within the 20 days, the court should presume the violation happened (a \"rebuttable presumption\"), and the client must then prove otherwise.",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":824,"children":825},{},[826,828,832],{"type":76,"value":827},"If you hear nothing for 10 weeks, DCWP says to email ",{"type":71,"tag":79,"props":829,"children":830},{"href":792},[831],{"type":76,"value":795},{"type":76,"value":833}," or call 212-436-0380.",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":835,"children":836},{},[837,842,843,848],{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":838,"children":839},{},[840],{"type":76,"value":841},"Deadlines",{"type":76,"value":479},{"type":71,"tag":79,"props":844,"children":846},{"href":358,"rel":845},[222],[847],{"type":76,"value":570},{"type":76,"value":849},"):",{"type":71,"tag":108,"props":851,"children":852},{},[853,858,863],{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":854,"children":855},{},[856],{"type":76,"value":857},"DCWP complaint: within 2 years of the violation.",{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":859,"children":860},{},[861],{"type":76,"value":862},"Court claim for a missing written contract: within 2 years.",{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":864,"children":865},{},[866],{"type":76,"value":867},"Court claim for non-payment, underpayment or retaliation: within 6 years.",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":869,"children":870},{},[871],{"type":76,"value":872},"There is one condition for contract-only claims. If the missing written contract is your only claim, you must show that you asked for one before you started the work.",{"type":71,"tag":101,"props":874,"children":876},{"id":875},"what-dcwps-five-year-report-found",[877],{"type":76,"value":878},"What DCWP's five-year report found",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":880,"children":881},{},[882,884,889],{"type":76,"value":883},"DCWP's ",{"type":71,"tag":79,"props":885,"children":887},{"href":374,"rel":886},[222],[888],{"type":76,"value":596},{"type":76,"value":890}," (November 2023) covers fiscal years 2019 to 2023:",{"type":71,"tag":108,"props":892,"children":893},{},[894,906,918,937],{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":895,"children":896},{},[897,899,904],{"type":76,"value":898},"Freelancers filed ",{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":900,"children":901},{},[902],{"type":76,"value":903},"2,542 complaints",{"type":76,"value":905}," with DCWP's Navigation Program. Most (2,184) were about late or missing payment, 264 about a missing written contract and 212 about retaliation.",{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":907,"children":908},{},[909,911,916],{"type":76,"value":910},"Hiring parties responded to DCWP's notices ",{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":912,"children":913},{},[914],{"type":76,"value":915},"74%",{"type":76,"value":917}," of the time.",{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":919,"children":920},{},[921,923,928,930,935],{"type":76,"value":922},"At least ",{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":924,"children":925},{},[926],{"type":76,"value":927},"773 freelancers",{"type":76,"value":929}," reported recovering ",{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":931,"children":932},{},[933],{"type":76,"value":934},"$2.9 million",{"type":76,"value":936}," after complaining. DCWP notes that outcomes are self-reported, so the real total is likely higher.",{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":938,"children":939},{},[940],{"type":76,"value":941},"Contract sizes varied widely: 22% of the contracts in complaints were for $1,000 or less, and 51% were for $5,000 or less.",{"type":71,"tag":101,"props":943,"children":945},{"id":944},"new-york-states-law",[946],{"type":76,"value":947},"New York State's law",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":949,"children":950},{},[951,953,960,962,969],{"type":76,"value":952},"New York State has its own Freelance Isn't Free Act. The ",{"type":71,"tag":79,"props":954,"children":957},{"href":955,"rel":956},"https:\u002F\u002Fdol.ny.gov\u002Fnode\u002F54011",[222],[958],{"type":76,"value":959},"New York State Department of Labor",{"type":76,"value":961}," says it added Article 44-A to the General Business Law on August 28, 2024. The department directs complaints under the state law to the ",{"type":71,"tag":79,"props":963,"children":966},{"href":964,"rel":965},"https:\u002F\u002Fag.ny.gov\u002Fresources\u002Findividuals\u002Fworkers-rights",[222],[967],{"type":76,"value":968},"New York State Attorney General",{"type":76,"value":970},", and it publishes a model contract. Check the state's pages for its exact requirements. This guide covers the city law in detail.",{"type":71,"tag":101,"props":972,"children":974},{"id":973},"practical-tips-ours-not-dcwps",[975],{"type":76,"value":976},"Practical tips (ours, not DCWP's)",{"type":71,"tag":108,"props":978,"children":979},{},[980,985,990,995,1000],{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":981,"children":982},{},[983],{"type":76,"value":984},"Put any job of $800 or more, or a run of smaller jobs for the same client, in writing.",{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":986,"children":987},{},[988],{"type":76,"value":989},"Include all six items DCWP lists, especially a real payment date.",{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":991,"children":992},{},[993],{"type":76,"value":994},"Keep a signed copy, and the emails where the client approved changes.",{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":996,"children":997},{},[998],{"type":76,"value":999},"Invoice promptly, and note the due date on the invoice.",{"type":71,"tag":112,"props":1001,"children":1002},{},[1003],{"type":76,"value":1004},"If the date passes, send a polite written reminder that cites the contract. Then use the DCWP complaint route if you need to.",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":1006,"children":1007},{},[1008],{"type":71,"tag":1009,"props":1010,"children":1011},"em",{},[1012,1014,1021],{"type":76,"value":1013},"Checked against nyc.gov and dol.ny.gov on October 22, 2026. DCWP's FAQ, the source for the exemptions, deadlines and damages above, was last updated May 14, 2018; the live DCWP page and the November 2023 report agree with it on the points they cover. Check the Administrative Code for later amendments. This is a summary, not legal advice. DCWP cannot give legal advice either, but it publishes a ",{"type":71,"tag":79,"props":1015,"children":1018},{"href":1016,"rel":1017},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nyc.gov\u002Fassets\u002Fdca\u002Fdownloads\u002Fpdf\u002Fworkers\u002FLegal-Referrals-List.pdf",[222],[1019],{"type":76,"value":1020},"legal referral list",{"type":76,"value":99},{"title":7,"searchDepth":1023,"depth":1023,"links":1024},2,[1025,1026,1027,1028,1029,1030,1031,1032,1033,1034,1035],{"id":103,"depth":1023,"text":106},{"id":165,"depth":1023,"text":168},{"id":383,"depth":1023,"text":386},{"id":457,"depth":1023,"text":460},{"id":550,"depth":1023,"text":553},{"id":615,"depth":1023,"text":618},{"id":632,"depth":1023,"text":635},{"id":760,"depth":1023,"text":763},{"id":875,"depth":1023,"text":878},{"id":944,"depth":1023,"text":947},{"id":973,"depth":1023,"text":976},"markdown","content:blog:freelance-isnt-free-act.md","content","blog\u002Ffreelance-isnt-free-act.md","blog\u002Ffreelance-isnt-free-act","md",1792708033897]