Dallas could require rest periods, drinking water on job sites

The City Council is considering an ordinance after a survey showed 30% of crews get no breaks.

By Sharon O'Malley • Sept. 4, 2014

Housing accounts for more of paycheck in L.A. than anywhere else in U.S.

Renters pay nearly half of their income for their apartments each month.

By Sharon O'Malley • Sept. 4, 2014

Rebates, regulation concessions could revive French construction sector

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has pledged to roll back rent ceilings and offer tax rebates on land sales.

By Sharon O'Malley • Sept. 1, 2014

NC construction-site theft gets attention, especially at a new 'cop shop'

Outside Raleigh, N.C, police were adamant about catching a man they say took $1,000 worth of copper from a construction site.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 28, 2014

In Minnesota Amish country, a legal stink over a sewer system

The state has gone to court against a family who believe that certain ordinances go against their beliefs in how to build.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 28, 2014

Construction firms dominate OSHA severe violator list

More than half of the 75 new companies on OSHA's watch list are construction firms.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 27, 2014

Grand jury indicts contractor in California worker's death

In Santa Clara County, the owner and a project manager for U.S. Sino Investment Inc. were indicted for involuntary manslaughter.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 26, 2014

NYC contractors say safety requirements are choking project pipeline

New York City requires independent safety inspectors on construction projects, but there are not enough licensed people to go around.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 25, 2014

Judge stops construction of Target store in L.A.

A California judge said Target's permit to build to 74 feet high store in a 35-foot zone in Hollywood is illegal.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 21, 2014

Hearing offers a glimpse into downfall of Lamar Construction

Unpaid debts and not keeping track of change orders were among the bankrupt company's problems.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 18, 2014

Contractor departs CA project with a settlement against hospital

An expansion of Tulare Regional Medical Center remains unfinished, and Harris Construction could collect up $7.9M.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 17, 2014

Cities are giving their zoning laws a makeover

From Miami to Freemont, CA, regulations are changing the way zoning works for city planning.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 13, 2014

Climate controlled offices may be getting even more efficient

A multipurpose window device created by architects with NBBJ, based in Columbus, Ohio, is intended to obviate the too-cold/too-hot complaints of workers in large buildings.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 12, 2014

Virginia county may leave LEED behind as it weighs costs

It's been the rule in Loudoun County since 2008 that new county buildings have to meet LEED Silver standards, but a recent project has supervisors asking questions.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 7, 2014

Survey supports claims about tight-credit effects on mortgages

Housing interests who have been saying that federal lending rules imposed after the housing crash are inhibiting the recovery got some vindication when the Federal Reserve surveyed banks.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 5, 2014

Feds charge steel erector with fraud for One World Trade Center work

Federal agents arrested Larry Davis, who owns DCM Erectors Inc., saying he used a minority-owned firm and a woman-owned company as fronts to quality for work performed by his firm.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 4, 2014

Welsh 'Hobbit House' has post-building permit problem

In Wales, a couple is trying to get a permit to keep their "hobbit house."

By Ron Gallagher • July 31, 2014

President Obama orders federal contractors to disclose labor violations

A new executive order will make companies that want federal contracts over $500,000 disclose any violations in past three years.

By Ron Gallagher • July 31, 2014

U.S. Senate passes $8B Highway Trust Fund fix

As states who depend on federal money for highway work and the contractors they hire watch, senators have moved to force a real fix in December.

By Ron Gallagher • July 29, 2014

Minnesota sprinkler mandate for big homes survives challenge

Scheduled for next year, the new requirement had been the subject of an end-of-session repeal effort in the legislature.

By Ron Gallagher • July 29, 2014

10th-largest U.S. electrical contractor files for bankruptcy

The company did a lot of work in the Washington, D.C., area, but it's unclear how many jobs it had in progress.

By Ron Gallagher • July 25, 2014

8 companies cited for violations in Texas worker's death

After a man fell 29 feet at a site where condominiums are being built, OSHA levied fines on eight companies involved in the project.

By Ron Gallagher • July 23, 2014

Massachusetts court decision may aid condo trustees, hurt contractors

Massachusetts' highest court says it does not make sense to apply the doctrine of economic loss to suits about defective work in common areas.

By Ron Gallagher • July 22, 2014

Local-hiring requirements can stress contractors

Incentives to get companies to build in certain states often come with local-hiring requirements for construction work, and that becomes the contractor's problem.

By Ron Gallagher • July 22, 2014

Flooding report has big implications for builders

The Reuters analysis shows East Coast flooding has increased significantly in recent decades.

By Ron Gallagher • July 17, 2014