# Property Owner Liability in NYC Construction
> Under the Labor Law, owners can be liable for elevation hazards and code violations even without supervising the work.

- Type: informational
- URL: https://autoaccidentlawyersnyc.com/labor-law/property-owner-liability/
- Updated: 2026-08-20T00:46:22+00:00

## About this page
Under the Labor Law, owners can be liable for elevation hazards and code violations even without supervising the work.

## Key facts
- Phone: (212) 555-0100
- Location: New York, New York
- Logo: /storage/projects/27/files/lawlogo.webp

## Page content
New York's Labor Law places duties directly on property owners, not just contractors. For § 240 and § 241(6) claims, owners can be held responsible for elevation-related injuries and Industrial Code violations even when they didn't supervise the job. A narrow exception exists for certain owners of one- and two-family…
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## How New York law applies
- Owners owe non-delegable duties. § 240 and § 241(6) reach owners regardless of day-to-day supervision.
- Limited homeowner exception. Owners of one- and two-family dwellings who don't direct or control the work may be exempt from § 240/§ 241.
- § 200 turns on notice and control. For general-negligence claims, the owner's knowledge of and authority over the hazard matter.

## Who may be responsible
Liability often reaches beyond the obvious. Depending on the facts, responsible parties can include:
- The property owner
- The general contractor
- Contractors who created the hazard
- A managing agent with control
- Your employer (through workers' compensation)

## Deadlines that matter
A third-party construction case generally must be filed within three years, and a related wrongful-death claim within two years. Public projects can shorten these windows. Just as important, job sites change quickly — equipment and witnesses disappear — so prompt documentation matters.

## What to do now
- Report the injury to your employer or supervisor in writing the same day, and start a workers' compensation claim to protect your benefits.
- Get medical care immediately and tell the provider exactly how the injury happened on the job.
- Write down which contractors were on site, what equipment was involved, and any safety device that was missing, broken, or not provided.
- Identify co-workers who saw what happened — job sites change fast and witnesses move on.
- Photograph the location, the equipment, and the conditions if you safely can.

## Mistakes to avoid
A good case can be undercut in the first days. Watch for these:
- Assuming workers' compensation is your only option — a separate third-party case against a contractor, owner, or equipment maker is often available and can…
- Letting the job site get cleaned up or repaired before the conditions are documented.
- Giving a recorded statement to the site's insurer or signing forms you don't understand.
- Waiting to act — memories fade, workers leave, and key deadlines can be short.

## What affects your case's value
No one can responsibly promise a number before reviewing your records. These are the factors that actually move it:

## Related
- [New York Labor Law 241(6)](https://autoaccidentlawyersnyc.com/labor-law/labor-law-241-6/)
- [General Contractor Liability in NYC Construction](https://autoaccidentlawyersnyc.com/labor-law/general-contractor-liability/)
- [New York Labor Law 200](https://autoaccidentlawyersnyc.com/labor-law/labor-law-200/)
- [Union & Non-Union Worker Rights in NYC](https://autoaccidentlawyersnyc.com/labor-law/union-non-union-worker-rights/)
- [Third-Party Construction Claims in NYC](https://autoaccidentlawyersnyc.com/labor-law/third-party-construction-claims/)
- [Construction Site Safety Violations in NYC](https://autoaccidentlawyersnyc.com/labor-law/site-safety-violations/)