TradeGuardNew York subcontractor insurance & compliance requirements
If you're a general contractor hiring subcontractors in New York, here are the certificates and documents you should collect and keep current, and how TradeGuard tracks them automatically.
Documents to collect from subcontractors in New York
The core compliance documents a GC should require and keep current for each sub.
State or local business license
Certificate of Insurance for General Liability coverage
Certificate of Insurance for Workers Compensation coverage, required for any sub with employees
Required for tax reporting on payments over $600
Required on many public and private commercial projects
Required for supervisors on many commercial and public projects
Required for work in New York City, verify with NYC DOB
Required on public works projects over threshold
Required alongside performance bond on public projects
Required when bidding on public construction contracts; guarantees contractor will honor the bid if awarded
New York State does not have a statewide GC license. New York City has its own licensing (General Contractor license, Home Improvement Contractor license). Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties have separate requirements.
New York operates an approved state OSHA plan. NY has a state OSHA plan for public sector employees only; private sector covered by federal OSHA
No statewide contractor bond requirement, though projects or public work may still require bonds.
- NYSDOL: New York State Dept of Labor
- WCB: New York Workers Compensation Board
- NYC DOB: New York City Dept of Buildings (NYC only)
Summary for New York
No state GC license, but NYC and major counties require local licensing. Public sector covered by state plan. Workers comp required for all employers.
Track all of this automatically in New York
TradeGuard collects every subcontractor's COI, license, and OSHA docs, flags New York compliance gaps, and warns you before anything expires. Stop tracking it in a spreadsheet.
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New York compliance FAQ
Do subcontractors need a contractor license in New York?+
New York does not issue a statewide general contractor license, though local jurisdictions or specialty trades may still require one. New York State does not have a statewide GC license. New York City has its own licensing (General Contractor license, Home Improvement Contractor license). Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties have separate requirements.
Does New York follow federal OSHA or a state OSHA plan?+
New York runs its own OSHA-approved state plan. NY has a state OSHA plan for public sector employees only; private sector covered by federal OSHA
Is a surety bond required for contractors in New York?+
New York does not impose a statewide contractor bond requirement, though individual projects, owners, or public work may still require performance and payment bonds.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change; confirm current rules with the relevant New York agencies before relying on them.