With many New York City construction projects deemed non-essential, owners find themselves with partially completed work coupled with legal obligations to maintain the safety of the property. The temporary shutdown shifts responsibilities (and liability) for maintaining the safety of the property and the public to the owner. From maintaining permits to weekly inspections and weather protection, owners are now tasked with numerous roles and responsibilities more typical of those of a general contractor. Failure to understand and address these requirements places the owner at risk of noncompliance and potential delays when work is ready to resume if for example, permits have lapsed or areas of the site are no longer code compliant. The full New York City Building Department bulletin (the Bulletin) issued last week provides guidance to owners and contractors regarding the minimum requirements for maintaining construction and demolition sites when operations are suspended.
Continue Reading New York Construction Building Owners Assume New Roles and Responsibilities in Wake of Construction Shutdowns