In this work, we analyze a recent proposal to detect SU(N) continuum Yang-Mills sectors labeled by center vortices, inspired by Laplacian-type center gauges in the lattice. Initially, after the introduction of appropriate external sources, we obtain a rich set of sector-dependent Ward identities, which can be used to control the form of the divergences. Next, we show the all-order multiplicative renormalizability of the center-vortex free sector. These are important steps towards the establishment of a first-principles, well-defined, and calculable Yang-Mills ensemble.