Mar 27 New York Halts All Non-Essential Construction

As of today, Friday, March 27, the state is officially shutting down all construction except work on affordable housing, infrastructure and healthcare facilities.

The Empire State Development Corp. stated only work on “roads, bridges, transit facilities, utilities, hospitals or health care facilities, affordable housing, and homeless shelters” will be allowed to continue. Now, workers on condo and commercial sites will need to stay home, unless there is emergency construction that needs to be done, i.e. work that would endanger the public and/or occupants if left unfinished. Construction work does not include a single worker, who is the sole employee/worker on a job site.

At every site, if essential or emergency non-essential construction, all workers and people on-site must continue to maintain social distancing, including for purposes of elevators/meals/entry and exit. Sites that cannot maintain distance and safety best practices must close and enforcement will be provided by the state in coordination with the city/local governments. This will include fines of up to $10,000 per violation.