Melani General Contractor - Licensed NYC General ContractorCall
General Contractor · Manhattan

General Contractor in Manhattan, NY

General contracting in Manhattan means working inside one of the most regulated, logistically demanding building environments in the country. Co-op boards require licensed contractors, certificates of insurance, and board-approved alteration agreements before a single wall comes down. The NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) adds its own permit layers on top of that, and exterior work affecting a designated landmark or property in a historic district may require LPC approval or permits before DOB approval can be completed. We are a fully licensed and insured general contractor serving Manhattan property owners from our Brooklyn base, and we coordinate applicable building, DOB, and LPC requirements to help reduce avoidable delays.

Completed renovation managed by a general contractor in Manhattan by Melani General Contractor

Ready to start your Manhattan renovation? Talk to our team today.

Contact Us
General Contractor · Manhattan

What Does a General Contractor Do in Manhattan?

A licensed general contractor in Manhattan manages the project and coordinates licensed electricians, plumbers, and registered design professionals as required under one point of accountability. We file with the DOB, hold the required Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) License, and handle communication with building management so you do not have to. That single accountability is what keeps a complex city renovation on schedule.

Beyond crew management, we coordinate every subcontractor on the job, including plumbers, electricians, tile setters, and finish carpenters, under one schedule. Manhattan adds regulatory layers that other boroughs rarely match. Pre-war walk-ups commonly contain cloth wiring, cast iron plumbing stacks, and load-bearing walls that require structural review before scope is finalized. In landmarked areas, LPC approval may be required before DOB approval can be completed, depending on the scope and filing route. Co-op boards add another layer entirely: alteration agreements, certificates of insurance naming the building as additional insured, and board review timelines that can add weeks before demo begins. If you own a unit in a co-op or condo, see what our co-op condo renovation service covers before your first board meeting.

Managing all of this in parallel is the core of the job. Here is what that coordination actually includes:

  • DOB permit filing and inspection scheduling
  • HIC License and certificate of insurance documentation
  • Landmarks Preservation Commission approval coordination with qualified professionals where required
  • Co-op board alteration agreement submission
  • Subcontractor scheduling within building work-hour restrictions
  • Elevator padding, floor protection, and building-rule compliance
General contractor reviewing project plans on site in Manhattan by Melani General Contractor
General Contractor · Manhattan

What's Included in Our Manhattan General Contracting Service

Every Manhattan project we take on is fully managed under one point of contact, from permit coordination through final inspection. We handle residential and commercial work across the borough, from Harlem brownstones to post-war towers in Midtown to loft conversions in Tribeca.

Structural framing work during renovation in Manhattan by Melani General Contractor

DOB Permit Filing and Expediting

We coordinate, track, and close out required DOB permits to help reduce avoidable approval delays. For exterior or facade work affecting a designated landmark or property in a historic district, we coordinate any required LPC approval or permits before DOB approval can be completed. See our local law compliance contractor page for permit-specific detail.

Full Gut Renovation Management

We coordinate every trade from demolition to final coat under one schedule and one point of contact. Learn more about our approach to gut renovation, including scope, sequencing, and what to expect at each phase.

Kitchen and Bathroom Renovation

We coordinate directly with building management on shared plumbing risers and wet-wall access windows, which boards require before any kitchen remodeling or bathroom renovation begins.

Electrical and Plumbing Coordination

We upgrade panels, add outlets, and tie into cast iron plumbing stacks in buildings where cloth wiring is still common. Melani coordinates licensed trades for every connection. Details are on our electrical services page.

Flooring Installation and Finish Carpentry

We install hardwood, tile, and engineered flooring, and match custom moulding to the plaster crown and baseboard profiles that define older Manhattan apartments. Full material options are covered on our flooring installation page.

Commercial and Mixed-Use Renovation

We build out retail storefronts, office suites, and mixed-use buildings with full DOB commercial permits. See our commercial renovation page for scope and past project types.

Managing a co-op renovation? Get a contractor who already knows the board approval process and can build the alteration agreement package for you.

Contact Us
Our Process

How Our Manhattan General Contracting Process Works

  1. 1

    Step 1: Site Assessment and Written Scope

    We visit the property first. Every time. A pre-war walk-up has different structural constraints than a post-war concrete tower or a modern glass-and-steel condo. We assess the building type, mechanical systems, and existing conditions, then produce a written scope of work before any contract is signed.

  2. 2

    Step 2: Permit Filing and Board Approvals

    We coordinate required DOB filings with the appropriate registered design professionals and licensed trades. For co-op and condo properties, we coordinate the alteration agreement submission and track board approval timelines before demo begins. As noted above, work affecting designated landmarks or properties in historic districts may require LPC approval or permits before DOB approval can be completed, and we build that lead time into the schedule from day one. See how we handle co-op condo renovation from start to finish.

  3. 3

    Step 3: Trade Management and On-Site Supervision

    Our crew handles demo, carpentry, tile and finishes; licensed plumbers and electricians handle regulated work under our direct supervision. Manhattan building management companies typically restrict work hours to weekdays 8am to 5pm and require elevator padding and floor protection. We schedule every trade around those rules. For a full picture of what this covers, visit our home renovation page.

  4. 4

    Step 4: Final Inspections and Permit Closeout

    We schedule and coordinate all required DOB inspections, complete the punch list, and close out the permit so the certificate of compliance is on file. The job is not finished until the paperwork matches the work.

General Contractor · Manhattan

Signs You Need a General Contractor in Manhattan

Most Manhattan property owners know something needs to happen. They just are not sure how much coordination it actually takes. If any of the situations below match what you are facing, you need a licensed GC before work starts. This applies to apartment renovation at every scale, from a single bathroom to a full floor.

Residential building exterior under renovation in Manhattan by Melani General Contractor

Your Project Requires a DOB Permit

Moving a wall, adding a bathroom, or upgrading an electrical panel may require DOB filings and/or separate electrical or plumbing permits, depending on the work. Working without required permits can result in a stop-work order, and DOB violations and penalties may be recorded against the property and can complicate future work or a sale. A licensed general contractor files the permit, coordinates the licensed design professional, and keeps the job legal from day one.

Multiple Trades Are Working at the Same Time

Kitchen demolition, bathroom rough-in, and flooring installation cannot run without a single point of coordination. Without a GC sequencing the trades, electricians and plumbers schedule against each other, work gets done twice, and your project runs over budget.

Your Co-op Board Requires a Licensed GC

Manhattan has a large concentration of co-op buildings. Most boards require a licensed and insured GC to sign the alteration agreement before any work begins. Skipping that step means your renovation does not start, regardless of how far along your plans are. See our co-op condo renovation page for what boards typically require.

Your Pre-War Building Shows Structural Warning Signs

Cracked plaster, soft spots in the floor, or bowing walls in a pre-war building in Harlem, Chelsea, or Morningside Heights are not cosmetic problems. They signal that a structural assessment must happen before any renovation scope is finalized. Skipping that step turns a renovation into a much larger problem.

Your Building Predates 1960

Buildings constructed before 1960 commonly contain cloth wiring, cast iron plumbing stacks, and galvanized supply lines. A licensed GC identifies these conditions during the pre-construction walkthrough, before they surface mid-project as code violations. Call us at (718) 283-4154 if your building falls into this category.

General Contractor · Manhattan

How Long Does Co-op Board Approval Take in Manhattan?

Co-op board review typically adds two to six weeks to the front end of a project, and complex alterations can run longer. That timeline depends on how often the board meets, how complete the alteration agreement package is, and whether the managing agent needs revisions. We prepare the package correctly the first time to avoid a second review cycle.

Manhattan's housing stock covers more than a century of construction in a single borough. Pre-war walk-ups carry original cast iron plumbing stacks, cloth wiring, and plaster-over-lath walls. Post-war concrete towers in Kips Bay and Murray Hill have their own structural and mechanical realities. Glass-and-steel condos in Hudson Yards operate under entirely different building systems. A Manhattan renovation contractor who treats all three the same way will run into problems fast.

Historic district oversight adds another layer. Greenwich Village, the Upper West Side, and the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District all fall under review authority that requires approval before permits can be filed for exterior or facade work. Missing the applicable sequence can delay permit approval. We know how to coordinate those submissions correctly from the start, which keeps projects moving instead of stalled at the agency level.

Co-op boards require a licensed GC, a certificate of insurance naming the building as additional insured, and a board-approved alteration agreement before any work begins. Many buildings also restrict work hours to weekdays between 8am and 5pm and require elevator padding and floor protection. Our team plans for all of it upfront. Projects involving full-scope work also benefit from our experience with gut renovation.

Completed renovation managed by a general contractor in Manhattan by Melani General Contractor
Client Reviews

What Manhattan Property Owners Say About Melani General Contractor

General Contractor · Manhattan

Why Choose Melani General Contractor for Manhattan Projects

22+ Years of Experience Across All Five Boroughs

Melani General Contractor is a licensed general contractor in Manhattan that has renovated apartments, brownstones, kitchens, and bathrooms across Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island for 22+ years. That track record is backed by strong client feedback. Read more on our about page. Our base is 343 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215, and we serve Manhattan properties from there every day.

Licensed Trade Coordination, Every Project

From electrical services and plumbing services to flooring installation and finish carpentry, Melani coordinates licensed trades under one point of contact. One schedule. Clients describe the team handling kitchen and bathroom renovations, mold remediation, and flooring repairs simultaneously, with results they call "impeccable."

Responsive, On-Time, and Building-Management Ready

Customers specifically note the team was "responsive, fast, and did a good job." We coordinate directly with building management so your project stays on schedule and on the right side of house rules.

Explore

Additional Renovation Services in Manhattan

Browse service information for Manhattan and nearby communities.

Apartment Renovation

Bathroom Renovation

Brownstone Renovation

Commercial General Contractor

Commercial Renovation

Condo & Co-op Renovation

Electrical Services

Flooring Installation

Gut Renovation

Home Renovation

Kitchen Remodeling

Loft Renovation

Painting Services

Plumbing Services

Townhouse Renovation

Service Areas

Our Service Areas

Our general contracting and home renovation work is based in Brooklyn, but we serve property owners across all five boroughs. Wherever your project is, we bring the same permitting know-how, licensed trades, and direct oversight.

Bronx

Manhattan

Queens

Staten Island

SoHo

Manhattan neighborhood

Tribeca

Manhattan neighborhood

Upper East Side

Manhattan neighborhood
General Contractor · Manhattan

Start Your Manhattan Renovation with Melani General Contractor

Our team operates from our base at 343 4th Ave in Brooklyn and takes on general contracting across all five boroughs, including every neighborhood in Manhattan. We assess your project, coordinate the necessary permit filings, and manage every trade from start to finish under one point of contact.

Structural framing work during renovation in Manhattan by Melani General Contractor

Call us at (718) 283-4154 or visit our co-op condo renovation page if your building has board approval requirements. We are ready to move when you are.

Contact UsGive Us a Call
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need a Licensed General Contractor for a Manhattan Renovation?

Yes. Any renovation involving structural changes, electrical upgrades, plumbing alterations, or building envelope work requires a licensed contractor and DOB permits. Co-op boards across Manhattan require proof of a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) License and general liability insurance before approving any work. Unlicensed work risks stop-work orders, fines, and serious complications at resale.

How Does the Co-op Alteration Agreement Process Work?

We prepare the full alteration agreement package: HIC License documentation, certificates of insurance naming the building as additional insured, and a detailed work schedule. Our team coordinates directly with the managing agent and tracks board approval before the demo begins. This process typically adds two to six weeks to the front end of a project, and we build that timeline into the schedule from day one. For more on what this process involves, see our page on co-op condo renovation.

What Types of Manhattan Properties Do You Work On?

We work on pre-war and post-war apartments, co-ops, condos, lofts in the Tribeca area, townhouse renovation, and commercial spaces across Manhattan. Our experience covers cast iron loft buildings, Beaux-Arts pre-war walk-ups, and modern glass-and-steel condos. Key zip codes we serve regularly include 10001, 10013, 10023, 10033, and 10128.

How Long Does a Manhattan Gut Renovation Take?

A gut renovation for a one-bedroom Manhattan apartment varies substantially by scope, approvals, building rules, procurement, and concealed conditions. We provide a project-specific schedule after assessment. Pre-war buildings that reveal cloth wiring or deteriorated cast iron stacks during the demo can extend the timeline further.

What Does General Contracting Cost in Manhattan?

Costs vary by project scope, building type, and permit complexity. We provide a written scope and firm price before any work begins, so you know exactly what you are committing to. No work starts without your sign-off on that document.

Do You File DOB Permits for Manhattan Projects?

Yes. Our team coordinates required DOB filings for Manhattan projects with the appropriate registered design professionals and licensed trades. We coordinate DOB inspections throughout the job and close out the permit at completion with the applicable project-specific documentation, such as final inspection sign-off, a Letter of Completion, or a Certificate of Occupancy where applicable. This is part of our local law compliance contractor work. In many cases, a separate expediter is not required.

Give Us a Call

Your Manhattan renovation has enough moving parts without hiring a contractor who is learning the building type on your dime. Call us at (718) 283-4154 or contact us online to schedule a site visit. We will assess the property, outline the permit requirements, and deliver a written scope before any work begins.