The NYC DOB requires a gas piping inspection for many Queens buildings. This task requires the oversight of an N.Y.C. Licensed Master Plumber who will determine if the gas pipes in the common areas of your building are safe and leak-free. If you are a building owner or manager, HBNY Plumbing & Heating can handle your LL152 inspection needs in Queens.
Local Law 152 of 2016 was passed in response to injuries and damage caused by faulty gas piping in city buildings in all five boroughs, including Queens. The law mandates a visual inspection and leak testing of the gas pipes from where they enter the building and in all public areas. An LL152 inspection does not involve entry into individual residences except for on-site residences for a building owner or property manager..
Buildings are on a four-year testing rotation determined by their city district. For example, all the buildings in District 1 of each borough will be inspected in the same year. Failing to receive an inspection can result in expensive fines, so it is important to stay ahead of the game.
If your property in Queens is due for an LL152 inspection, HBNY Plumbing & Heating would be happy to help. If you are unsure of where you are on the schedule, give us a call and we can tell you when your building is due.
Local Law 152 compliance is a major concern for NYC building owners. Part of the city’s gas safety package originally passed in 2016, it was not fully implemented and updated until 2019 and finally went into enforcement in 2020. Building owners and others may have several questions surrounding Local Law 152, gas inspections, costs, and other concerns. We have assembled the most frequently asked questions below.
Local Law 152 requires that certain building owners in NYC have their gas piping inspected from time to time. It does not apply to all buildings, but it does apply to a significant percentage of New York City’s structures (an estimated 280,000).
The law was originally passed in 2016, but it was updated and finally implemented in 2019. To explore the Local Law 152 of 2016, you can check here. To view the Local Law 152 update in 2019, you can go here.
While the law passed in 2016, it did not go into effect immediately. In fact, it was not officially implemented until after the Local Law 152 update in 2019 and the final adoption by the New York City Department of Buildings the same year. However, inspections under the law did not begin until January 1, 2020.
All building owners in New York City must have the Local Law 152 gas inspection with one exception. Buildings in the R-3 group are not required to do so. These are residential buildings that hold two or fewer families. It is estimated that 280,000 buildings throughout NYC will need the Local Law 152 gas line inspection.
The city is following a staggered approach to Local Law 152 gas inspection by doing it in cycles based on districts. The following cycles apply currently:
Note that this schedule applies to districts in all boroughs.
LL 152 stipulates that building owners must have subsequent inspections conducted every fourth calendar year after the initial inspection. It should be completed no later than December 31 of that year. So, a building that was inspected in 2020 will need another inspection in 2024, then in 2028, and so on. Note that this only applies until 2024 when all buildings will have their inspections due on the anniversary date of their initial inspection every four years. So, if your building was inspected on December 20, 2021, after 2024, that will be your due date moving forward. It’s also important to note that gas inspections cannot be conducted more than 60 days before the official due date.
According to subsection § 28-318.3.1 Inspection entity, “inspections of gas piping systems shall be conducted on behalf of the building owner by a licensed master plumber or by an individual under the direct and continuing supervision of a licensed master plumber, with appropriate qualifications as prescribed by department rule.”
No, you cannot. All building inspections must be conducted and submitted in the year they are due. What this means is that if you own buildings in multiple districts across several boroughs, you will need to have each building inspected when it is due, rather than having them all inspected at once.
Yes, any building without a gas piping system is still affected. While you are not required to have an inspection, you will need to file a certification stating that your building contains no gas piping system according to the same schedule listed above. However, you do not need to obtain your certificate from a licensed master plumber. Instead, you must work with a registered design professional.
Under Local Law 152, all exposed gas piping from the gas point of entry into the building must be inspected. The gas point of entry is where the gas service enters the building from the utility and passes through the foundation wall.
The inspection includes exposed gas piping located in:
Gas meter rooms and service areas
Basements and cellars
Boiler rooms and mechanical rooms
Common areas, corridors, and hallways
Commercial spaces and mixed-use tenant areas
Rooftops, where gas piping or gas equipment is present
Dwelling units (apartments) are the only spaces exempt from inspection, unless the gas point of entry or gas service piping is located within a dwelling unit. In that case, access to that area is required solely to inspect the gas point of entry.
All other areas containing exposed gas piping are subject to inspection under Local Law 152.
If you do not submit your Local Law 152 gas inspection form on time, you face penalties. According to the rules adopted, you could be liable for a civil penalty of $5,000. You can challenge the penalty, but must do so within 30 days of the date of your violation and will require that you submit proof that you did in fact file on time.
Building owners must follow specific deadlines after completing a Local Law 152 gas piping inspection:
Complete the inspection by the applicable deadline. The inspection must be performed by a NYC Licensed Master Plumber (LMP) on or before the building’s required inspection due date.
Within 60 days of the inspection: The LL152 certification must be filed through DOB NOW. The Licensed Master Plumber prepares the inspection filing, and the building owner must log into their DOB NOW Owner account to complete the required Owner Attestation, checkout, and payment of applicable DOB filing fees.
If corrections are required: The required conditions must be corrected in accordance with applicable NYC codes, and a reinspection must be performed.
Within 120 days of the initial inspection: If corrections were required, the corrected certification must be submitted through DOB NOW. The owner must complete the required Owner Attestation and checkout process for the corrected filing.
If additional time is needed: An extension may be requested through DOB NOW. With an approved extension, the corrections, reinspection, and corrected certification must be completed no later than 180 days from the date of the initial inspection.
Keep your records: Building owners must retain the required LL152 inspection reports and related documentation for 10 years.
Important: Under the new DOB NOW process, the Licensed Master Plumber cannot complete the filing entirely on the owner’s behalf. The building owner is required to participate by logging into their DOB NOW Owner account, completing the Owner Attestation, and paying the applicable DOB filing fees.
Find answers to your most pressing questions about Local Law 152 inspections. From compliance requirements to inspection timelines, our FAQ section provides the clarity you need to ensure your property meets NYC regulations.
Buildings in New York City are on a four-year rotation based on their city district. So, buildings in District 1 in every borough require an LL152 inspection in the same year. If you are uncertain, please call our office and we can use your address to determine your year.
The LL152 inspection primarily involves gas piping in the public areas of your building such as hallways, laundry rooms, and common rooms. Furnace rooms and other maintenance rooms are also subject to inspection. The best preparation for your Queens building is to ensure these rooms are easily accessible to the inspector.
If we inspect your gas piping, we are responsible for submitting a Gas Piping System Periodic Inspection Report to you within 30 days indicating any problems. We also submit a certification form signed and sealed by the Licensed Master Plumber within 60 days of the inspection.
In most cases, if there are conditions requiring correction, you will have 120 days to arrange for repairs and have the LMP submit a new certification form. The LMP may also indicate that conditions require additional time, giving the property owner 180 days to correct the problem and resubmit.
The LL152 process is a visual inspection of gas piping in public spaces, hallways, mechanical rooms, and around the service meters. If the building owner or manager maintains lives on-site, the inspector will inspect their residential piping. Other residential spaces are not included in the inspection.
Did We Answer Your Question?
If your Queens building is due for an LL152 inspection, trust the experts at HBNY Plumbing & Heating to take care of this task professionally and efficiently. Scheduling today will help you avoid fines and stay in compliance with NYC regulations.
HBNY Plumbing & Heating handles several mandatory inspections and tests for property owners and building managers in New York City.
HBNY Plumbing & Heating provides annual inspections for low-pressure boilers in required buildings. Our team will ensure your boiler is safe and operating properly.
If you have a backflow device in your building, it requires an annual test. Our team can handle this task that helps maintain the safety of the city’s water supply.