What Is New York Brick & Brownstone Insurance?
New York Brick & Brownstone Insurance is a specialized program built to cover older residential buildings across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. These types of buildings include 19th-century brownstones with carved sandstone facades, classic red-brick rowhouses, walkup apartment buildings, co-ops, and condos.
What sets these buildings apart isn’t just their age — it’s how they were built. Many were built with construction methods and materials that are no longer standard — like hand-laid masonry and wood joists — and have aging plumbing and electrical systems. That complexity makes repairs more expensive and maintaining building code compliance more difficult after a loss.
At Distinguished, our Brick & Brownstone program provides both Property and Liability coverage, along with specialized protections like Ordinance or Law tailored to meet the realities of insuring New York’s legacy housing stock.
Why Is Brick and Brownstone Insurance Unique?
Brick and brownstone insurance is unique because these properties come with structural quirks, mixed-use layouts, and legal exposures that require specialized coverage. Brokers need to consider not only the cost to rebuild, but also how local building codes, utility infrastructure, and state labor laws can create unexpected liabilities after a loss.
Here are a few reasons why these buildings require specialized insurance to give them the coverage they need.
Older Buildings Trigger Expensive Code Compliance
Due to the age of these structures, Ordinance or Law coverage should be included in the Property form. If there is damage to the structure and it must be upgraded to meet current building codes, the policy will help pay for these additional expenses, including demolition costs if required.
These older buildings also have exposure to loss from sewer and drain backup. The owner of a brick or brownstone building is responsible for maintaining the main sewer line, including any portion of the line that extends into the street or public right of way. These main sewer lines can easily deteriorate, crack, collapse, or become obstructed over time and cause significant damage.
Mixed-Use Means Business Income Exposure
Many New York brownstones and walkups include ground-floor commercial tenants. If a covered loss forces a closure, the property owner may lose rent or revenue during repairs. Business Income coverage reimburses those losses and helps cover ongoing expenses while the building is being restored.
Even for fully residential buildings, this coverage can be essential when units must be vacated after a claim. For example, if a pipe bursts and floods multiple residential units, the tenants may need to temporarily relocate. Business Income coverage can help replace the lost rental income while repairs are underway.
New York’s Labor Laws Require Extra Liability Care
Liability protection is essential for any building, but in New York, both the property owner and the contractor can be held liable if a worker suffers an elevation-related injury on the job.
To be eligible for this program, insureds must have written contracts in place with risk-transfer provisions for both commercial tenants and third-party vendors or contractors. The following documentation must be collected and maintained to meet these requirements:
- Provide the insured with a Certificate of Insurance as proof of Liability coverage, with minimum underlying limits of $1 million per occurrence for personal and advertising injury, and $2 million aggregate for general/products liability.
- Add the insured as an additional insured and include hold harmless provisions in all applicable contracts.
- Require all outside contractors working on the premises to furnish Certificates of Insurance naming the insured as an additional insured.
- Require contractors to provide Commercial General Liability coverage for the insured on both their own policy and their subcontractors’ policies.
- Require contractors to provide proof of Workers’ Compensation and DBL (Disability Benefits Law) coverage.
- Require a written indemnification agreement stating that the contractor and all subcontractors will indemnify and hold the insured harmless for any work performed, in accordance with New York Labor Law.
These risk-transfer techniques will reduce the insured’s liability exposure in the event of an occurrence involving the general public or an employee of the contractor.
If requested, we can provide a sample indemnification agreement. Please make sure that the indemnity language is inserted in all of the insured’s construction contracts.
The insured should maintain a current Certificate of Insurance on file from commercial tenants with the insured as an additional named insured.
What Does Our New York Brick & Brownstone Insurance Program Cover?
Distinguished’s New York Brick & Brownstone Insurance covers all of the most important exposures that brick and brownstone buildings face across New York City. This includes:
- Property coverage on a Special Form basis
- Equipment Breakdown coverage, including electrical apparatus
- Ordinance or Law coverage, with Coverage A up to the building limit and Coverages B and C at 25% of the building value or a minimum of $150,000
- Sewer and Drain Backup coverage up to the policy limit
- Business Income coverage
- Employee Theft and Dishonesty coverage
- Terrorism coverage
- General Liability coverage ($1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate)
- Medical Payments coverage ($5,000 per person/ $25,000 per accident)
- Personal Liability coverage for eligible owner-occupied buildings
- Additional Living Expense coverage
- Personal Inland Marine coverage for valuables (fine arts, furs, jewelry, antiques, etc.)
- Optional Flood and Earthquake coverage (where eligible)
- Optional Hired & Non-Owned Auto Liability coverage
The program also offers Replacement Cost coverage and the option for Agreed Amount on building coverage, helping clients avoid coinsurance penalties and ensuring they’re fully protected if a major loss occurs.
What Buildings Does This Program Insure?
This program covers well-maintained residential and mixed-use buildings with one to 30 units. Eligible properties include:
- Historic brownstones with sandstone facades
- Brick rowhouses and walkups
- Small apartment buildings
- Co-ops and condos
Mixed-use buildings qualify as long as at least 50% of the space is residential. There’s no age limit, but the building must meet inspection and underwriting standards.
What Is the Cost of New York Brick & Brownstone Insurance?
The cost of insurance for New York Brick & Brownstone buildings varies greatly depending on exposure factors such as unit count, construction type, location, coverage limits, and deductibles. Providing an accurate quote involves getting specific details on each building.
To give you an idea of pricing, here are some examples of actual insurance quotes based on location, size of the building, occupancy, and total insured value (TIV).
| Location | Size | Coverage | Premium |
| Brooklyn | 4 units, owner occupied, joisted masonry building | Property, GL | ~$4,484 |
| Brooklyn | 4 units, mercantile apartment, joisted masonry building | Property, GL | ~$7,543 |
| Flushing | 24 units, rental apartments, joisted masonry building | Property, GL | ~$25,189 |
| Manhattan | 6 units, condominium, joisted masonry building | Property, GL | ~$6,273 |
| Manhattan | 29 units, condominium, fire resistive building | Property, GL | ~$33,035 |
Why You Should Partner With Distinguished for Your New York Brownstone Clients
Distinguished makes it easy for brokers to insure historic buildings confidently across New York City. With flexible underwriting, specialized coverage, and value-added services, this program helps you win more business and protect your clients better.
Here’s what you can expect when you partner with us:
- NYC-focused coverage: We insure buildings located in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.
- Broad property eligibility: We cover one- to 30-unit brownstones, co-ops, row housing, condos, and small apartment buildings.
- Mixed-use available: Our program accepts mixed-use properties, as long as at least 50% is residential.
- No age restrictions: Older buildings are eligible, provided they pass inspection and meet underwriting requirements.
- Personal liability protection: We offer liability coverage for owner-occupied two- to four-unit properties to help protect personal assets.
- Coverage for valuables: We insure personal property like fine art, jewelry, antiques, and collectibles.
- Coverage for additional living expenses: We include coverage to help clients maintain their standard of living after a covered loss.
- Sedgwick Repair Services: Clients get access to vetted contractors and extended labor warranties through Sedgwick Repair Services.
With coverage tailored to New York’s unique building stock and tools that make your job easier, Distinguished is the smart choice for brokers serving NYC clients.
Get New York Brick & Brownstone Insurance and More Today
To bring the protection of Distinguished to your New York brownstone clients, you’ll first need to register as a broker. The process is quick, and once you’re appointed, you can submit an application, get a quote, and bind coverage in just minutes through our online portal.
Once you’re signed up, you’ll also get access to our full suite of urban property programs, including:
Whether your client owns a brownstone in Brooklyn or a condo in Chicago, Distinguished offers specialized insurance programs that help you win more accounts.
New York Brick & Brownstone Insurance FAQs
What is the carrier rating for this program?
Our New York Brick & Brownstone Insurance program is backed by Zurich, an AM Best A+ rated admitted carrier, providing your clients with the financial strength, claims reliability, and regulatory credibility they need.
What deductible options are available?
We offer flexible deductible options ranging from $2,5000 to $10,000, so you can tailor the policy to fit your client’s risk tolerance and budget.
Does the program include personal lines coverage?
Yes. For eligible owner-occupied buildings, the program includes Personal Liability coverage up to $1 million per occurrence, Additional Living Expense coverage, and Personal Inland Marine coverage for valuables like fine art, jewelry, antiques, and other high-value items.
