subdivision
New York Subdivision Bond Requirements
How subdivision (site improvement / plat) bonds work in New York: the enabling statute local governments rely on, how the bond amount is sized from the engineer's estimate, and what developers post to get a plat approved.
Application process
The bond is posted with the city or county that approves the plat, not a state agency. The local government (the obligee) sizes the security from the project engineer's estimate of the improvements still to be built (streets, curbs, sidewalks, storm drains, water and sewer), and the developer files the executed bond with the development or subdivision improvement agreement. Many New York jurisdictions reduce the required amount as phases are inspected and accepted.
Renewals
The bond stays in force until the local government inspects and accepts the improvements and releases the security; it is not renewed on a fixed license cycle.
Amounts are set locally under N.Y. Town Law § 277, so two projects in different New York jurisdictions can face different security terms for the same scope of work. Confirm the exact security form and amount with the approving city or county before ordering the bond.
Key statutes
- Town Law subdivision review, performance bond (N.Y. Town Law § 277) . Requires infrastructure for approved plats and lets planning boards accept a performance bond or other security in lieu of completed improvements; Village Law § 7-730 and General City Law § 33 are the village and city parallels.