The hardest class to place in New York. We go to the specialty markets that still write roofers — including torch-down and commercial flat roofs.
Roofing is the most restricted contractor class in New York: every job is at height, so almost every serious injury is a Labor Law 240 claim. Many standard carriers won't write it, and those that do ask about torch-down/hot work, max building height, residential vs. commercial mix and fall-protection programs. Expect GL and workers' comp to be your largest costs — a clean, complete submission is what gets you the best price.
New York is the only state that still has a “Scaffold Law.” Labor Law §240(1) makes property owners and contractors absolutely liable for most elevation-related injuries — falls from ladders, scaffolds and roofs, and falling objects — even when the worker was partly at fault. §241(6) adds liability for Industrial Code violations. Verdicts and settlements in the millions are common, so many carriers have restricted or exited NY contractor GL.
The result: fewer markets, tighter policy wording and higher premiums. The contractors who get the best terms are the ones whose submission is complete, accurate and sent to the right markets once.
Excludes claims where your own injured employee sues the owner or GC, and they pass that claim back to you under your contract. In NY this can remove the coverage you need most.
Low-cost forms often exclude 1–4 family, condo or co-op work.
Some policies exclude work above a set number of stories or feet.
Coverage conditioned on every sub carrying insurance naming you — miss one and a claim can be denied.
Only the exact operations listed are covered. Describe everything you do.
GCs and owners need primary & non-contributory AI plus waiver of subrogation — the endorsement must match the contract.
$1M/$2M up to $2M/$4M, per-project aggregate, AI ongoing & completed ops
$1M–$10M+ to meet GC, owner and co-op/condo requirements
NY statutory WC plus disability & paid family leave
Vans, pickups, dump trucks — hired & non-owned
Ground-up and renovation projects
Inland marine for tools, scaffolds and machinery
| Contractor profile | Typical annual GL premium* |
|---|---|
| Owner-operator, interior only, no employees, under ~$250K receipts | ~$3,000 – $9,000 |
| Small crew, residential renovation, $250K – $1M receipts | ~$10,000 – $30,000 |
| GC with subs or exterior / height work, $1M – $5M receipts | ~$30,000 – $100,000+ |
| Roofing, façade, scaffold, underpinning | Priced individually — often the highest |
*Estimates based on typical NYC excess & surplus lines pricing, not a quote. Loss history, receipts, subcontracted costs and job mix drive the final number. Workers' comp, umbrella and auto are additional.
The fastest way to get quoted is email. Send to adolfo@nextguardinsurance.com:
In NY contractor GL, wholesalers and carriers usually work the account with the first broker who submits it. If five agencies send your name to the same markets, those markets get blocked and your quote slows down or dies. Send us one complete submission — we take it to every market that fits and show you the options side by side.
Two minutes. We reply within one business day. For the fastest quote, complete the full online application.
Many carriers have reduced or exited NY roofing because of Labor Law 240 losses. A non-renewal is not the end — specialty E&S markets still write roofers when the submission is complete and the loss history is explained.
Yes. Residential-only, commercial flat roof and mixed operations are underwritten differently. Tell us your real mix — it changes which markets will quote.
Labor Law §240(1), New York's Scaffold Law, makes owners and contractors absolutely liable for most elevation-related injuries, even if the worker was partly at fault. Because claims are frequent and large, carriers charge more and restrict coverage for NY contractors.
It excludes claims where your injured employee sues a third party (like the owner or GC), who then sues you under your contract. In New York that is one of the most common claim paths, so an action-over exclusion can make a policy far less useful.
Once we have a complete submission — application, loss runs and your contract requirements — most NY contractor quotes come back in about 2 to 5 business days.
Yes. Non-renewals are common in NY contractor GL. We place many of these with excess & surplus lines markets. Send your loss runs and the non-renewal notice.
Commercial Trucking Insurance
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