Legal Guide for Freelancers in New York City

Most laws related to freelancers are made at the federal and state level, so be sure to check out our Guide to Freelancers in the U.S.

Do employment laws apply to freelancers?

Generally, no. Freelancers are treated as a business, so business laws apply. Thus employment law does not apply, unless a freelancer is “misclassified.”

However, New York City provides that employment discrimination and gender-based harassment apply to freelancers and independent contractors the same as employees.¹NYC Admin Code Sec 8-102

Do freelancers have any protections in New York City?

New York City recently passed the first protections for freelancers, with the Freelance Isn’t Free Act in 2017. The law requiring companies hiring freelancers to use a written contract and increasing penalties for violating the contract.²Freelance Isn’t Free Act

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