Yes — most NYC co-ops and condos require a Certificate of Insurance (COI) from any contractor doing work in the building, including art hanging and TV mounting. This applies even for small jobs. If you’re in a doorman building, assume a COI is required until your building tells you otherwise.

Why Buildings Require COIs

A COI protects the building, not you. If a contractor damages a wall, injures a neighbor, or causes any other incident while working in your unit, the building wants to know that the contractor’s insurance — not yours or the building’s — will cover the cost.

It’s a liability management tool, and NYC buildings have gotten very strict about it over the years. Some buildings added COI requirements after specific incidents. Others put it in their house rules as a blanket policy regardless of job size.

What a COI Typically Includes

A standard COI for NYC residential work includes two coverages:

• General Liability (GL): Covers property damage and third-party bodily injury. Buildings typically require $1 million per occurrence, $2 million aggregate — though some luxury buildings ask for higher limits.
• Workers’ Compensation: Covers the contractor’s employees if they’re injured on the job. In New York, workers’ comp certificates are issued through NYSIF or a private carrier and are separate from the GL certificate.

Your building’s managing agent or board will usually specify what coverage amounts they need and who to name as additionally insured. Get those requirements in writing before your contractor submits anything.

When Is a COI Required vs. Not?

The general pattern in NYC:

• Doorman buildings and full-service condos/co-ops: Almost always require a COI. Some require building management approval before the contractor can even enter.
• Walk-up buildings with a landlord (not a co-op board): Less common, but increasingly required. Check your lease and ask the super or landlord directly.
• Private homes or townhouses: No COI requirement unless you’re working with a contractor on a larger project and want the protection yourself.

How Quickly Can a Contractor Provide a COI?

A reputable contractor should be able to turn around a COI in 1 to 2 business days once they have your building’s specific requirements. The turnaround depends on their insurance broker’s availability and how detailed the building’s requirements are.

If a contractor tells you they can’t provide a COI, that’s a red flag — either they’re uninsured or they don’t work in buildings that require one regularly. Both are problems.

How PPM Handles COIs

Picture Perfect Mounting carries full General Liability and Workers’ Compensation coverage and provides COIs routinely for NYC co-ops, condos, and doorman buildings. Once you provide your building’s requirements, we can typically turn around a COI within 1 to 2 business days.

For full details on how the COI process works, visit our COI page. To book your installation, head to pictureperfectmounting.com/book or call (201) 241-2544.