General Liability Insurance

 

When pulling permits, contractors must provide proof that insurance requirements have been met. See RCNY §101-08 for complete information. Several factors will determine the amount of insurance requirements permittees must have for construction or demolition projects, including:

• If a Tower Crane is being used

• If the proposed construction is on a one- or two-family home

• If the depth of the proposed excavation work is less than 12 feet

• If the proposed construction is on the lot line with an existing structure

• If the height of the proposed construction is less than 35 feet

• The height and number of stories of tallest adjacent building

• The height and number of stories of proposed construction

• The type of permit being obtained.

 

Compliance

Proof of compliance is required when obtaining and/or renewing a permit. For projects requiring additional project-specific insurance, the following documentation must be submitted to the Department before a new or renewed permit will be issued:

1.  Project-Specific General Liability Insurance Summary and Affirmation (PGL1 Form) - The Project-Specific General Liability Insurance Tool will automatically generate this form, based upon the information the user provides. Once the PGL1 is generated, applicants must:

• Print the PGL1

• Sign the form and have it notarized

• Have an authorized insurance broker sign it
  

2.  Certificate of Liability Insurance (ACORD)

3.  Expiration Date of Permits - The permit’s expiration may coincide with the expiration of the project-specific insurance. The permit expiration date will be the earliest of the following

• One year from date the permit was issued

• The expiration date of the project-specific general liability insurance policy that was provided as proof when the permit was obtained

• The expiration date of the general liability insurance policy provided to the Department’s Licensing Unit

Permits that do not require project-specific general liability insurance will expire one year from the date the permit was issued or the day the general liability insurance policy expires, whichever is earlier.

 

Exemptions to Rule §101-08

Project-specific general liability insurance is not required for jobs that are:

• A one- or two-family hom;and

• The excavation is less than 12 feet dee;and

• The project is not on the lot line with an existing structure;and

• The project’s height is less than 35 feet

In addition, project-specific general liability insurance is not required for storage sheds, garages or similar accessory uses for residential structures.

Note: Tower crane projects are not exempt from these insurance requirements.

 

Determining Insurance Requirements by Project

The insurance requirements are determined by: permit type, height and number of stories of the tallest adjacent building, and height and number of stories of the proposed construction.

The following page outlines the new insurance requirements, the table Use these tables to determine the amount of liability insurance the project must have.

 

Tower Crane Jobs

For every project that will use a tower crane, the project must have general liability insurance of $80 million, regardless of the permit or scope of work.

 

Foundation or Full Demolition Permits

Tallest Adjacent Building	Foundation Permit	Full Demo Permit
Less than 7 Stories AND Less than 75ft	$5 million	$5 million
Between 7-14 stories AND Less than 150ft	$10 million	$15 million
Less than or equal to 14 stories AND Between 75-150ft	$10 million	$15 million
Greater than 14 Stories OR Greater than or equal to 150ft	$15 million	$25 million

 

New Buildings and Major Alterations*

                                                 

TALLEST ADJACENT BUILDING	PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION
	Less than 7 stories AND less than 75ft	Between 7-14 stories AND less than 150ft	Less than or equal to 14 stories AND between 75-150ft	Greater than 14 stories OR greater than or equal to 150ft
Less than 7 stories AND less than 75ft	$5 million	$15 million	$15 million	$25 million
Between 7-14 stories AND less than 150ft	$15 million	$15 million	$15 million	$25 million
Less than or equal to 14 stories AND between 75-150ft	$15 million	$15 million	$15 million	$25 million
Greater than 14 stories OR greater than or equal to 150ft	$25 million	$25 million	$25 million	$25 million

*A Major Alteration is defined as

• Alteration permit involving demolition of more than 50% of the floor area of an existing building

• Work that will result in the removal of one or more floors of an existing structure

• Horizontal or Vertical enlargement affecting the exterior envelop of an existing building