Get Quotes from Top Plumbers in New York, NY

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Plumber in New York City? 

Ensuring that your intended plumber is duly licensed not only provides you a measure of guarantee on the work to be done but also protects you against potential financial and legal problems. Per Section 28-408.1 of the New York City Construction Codes, all plumbing work in the city must either be done or directly supervised by a duly licensed master plumber. Violations of this code can result in civil and criminal penalties of monetary fines of up to $25,000, imprisonment of up to one year, or both.  

The NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) administers Journeyman registration and Master Plumber licenses to qualified individuals. Requirements for undergoing Journeyman registration include being older than 18 years of age and either satisfactorily completing a New York State registered training program with one year’s working experience in New York City or having a minimum of five years of full-time experience working under a licensed Master Plumber.

Note that one of these years of work experience must be in New York City. On the other hand, the minimum years of total experience for obtaining a Master Plumber license typically depends on where and how this experience was obtained, and it usually ranges from three to seven years.   

You can confirm the registration or licensing status of your New York City plumber through the online search portal provided by the DOB. Note that individuals who are involved in the construction, repair, or alteration of residential buildings and structures in New York City are typically required to obtain a separate Home Improvement Contractor license from the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP). You can confirm that your plumber has fulfilled this obligation by calling 311 or (212) 639-9675 or by utilizing the DCWP’s license search webpage. 

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Plumbers in New York City? 

Getting multiple estimates from different plumbers near you is a good way to ensure that you end up with the right one. Compare prices between at least three plumbers and select the one that is best suited to your budget. Note that the amount of money you will be charged by a plumber is typically determined by factors like permit and material costs, as well as the type of work to be done and its labor intensity.  

Plumbers in New York City earn an annual average wage of $74,420. Below is a breakdown of the mean hourly wages for plumbers in New York City compared with plumbers in other parts of New York State and other major cities in the country: 

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Do You Comply with the New York City Building Code for Plumbing? 

Hiring a plumber who is not only duly licensed but is also familiar with the city’s plumbing code helps ensure that you are not issued any violations from the DOB and saves you from potential civil penalties. The New York City Plumbing Code is a set of regulations that governs the erection, installation, alteration, repair, relocation, replacement, addition to, use, or maintenance of plumbing systems in the city.  

This code was put in place to provide minimum standards of safety for New Yorkers, and it covers a wide array of topics, ranging from fixtures, faucets, and fittings, water heaters, and water supply and distribution to sanitary drainage, special piping, and storage systems. While licensed Master Plumbers in the city are typically familiar with the specific requirements of the NYC Plumbing Code for various plumbing projects, it is always a good idea to get confirmation on this from your intended plumber.

You can also contact the DOB’s Customer Service Unit at (212) 393-2550 to get more information on NYC code violations.   

Will You Get the Plumbing Permits as Required by New York City Code? 

You will typically need a plumbing permit for any work that involves the alteration or modification of piping in New York City. However, per Section 28-105.4 of the city’s construction codes, certain types of ordinary work are exempt from permit requirements, provided that the work is done by a licensed plumber. This includes the removal or alteration of domestic plumbing systems that are not connected to a fire suppression or fire protection system. Similarly, simple repairs or direct replacements of existing faucets and fixtures can be carried out without a permit. Obtaining the necessary permits for your plumbing project is important, as failing to do so can result in fines and other penalties imposed on you.  

NYC plumbing permits are issued by the city’s Department of Buildings (DOB), and permit applications are primarily classified as either New Building or Alteration permit applications. Alteration permits are further subdivided into Types 1, 2, or 3 based on the level of alteration involved in the project. Depending on the scope of your plumbing project, you may be required to hire a state-licensed professional engineer or registered architect to submit construction-relevant plans and applications before you can obtain the necessary plumbing permits.

Once these plans have been reviewed and approved and all applicable fees have been paid, then your contractor can apply for the required permit. Plan filings and permit applications are done online via the DOB NOW: Build platform. Note that utilizing this platform requires the creation of a user account. The DOB provides interested parties with access to filing resources that can help them with the online plumbing permit application process.  

Also, the DOB typically carries out mandatory inspections at various stages of plumbing works that require permits and must also sign off on these projects once they are completed. These inspections include underground piping inspections, rough piping inspections, and piping tests. Note that you may be required to obtain a new or amended Certificate of Occupancy before the DOB signs off on your project. Queries concerning the plumbing permitting and inspection process can be directed to the DOB at (212) 566-5000. Queries can also be made in person at the following locations:  

Note that in-person inquiries must be made between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, at the borough office where your intended project is located. Likewise, phone lines can also only be reached between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. 

What Kind of Plumbing Services Do You Offer? 

New York City plumbers typically offer a wide variety of plumbing services, ranging from fixing leaks and repairing or replacing faulty piping and fixtures in already existing buildings and structures to installing piping and plumbing systems in new buildings. Plumbing services typically fall under four categories: leak detection and repair, drain cleaning services, installations and replacements, and inspection and maintenance.

Always confirm that the plumber you intend to hire is skilled enough to handle the job at hand. For example, while a journeyman plumber may be able to unclog blocked drains and fix leaky faucets, more serious tasks like piping system installations and repairs are best left to Master Plumbers.  

Some common cost estimates for plumbing services in New York City include: 

Do You Offer Emergency Plumbing Services in New York City? 

Most plumbing issues typically require emergency attention. These include problems like clogged toilets, burst pipes, and faulty sump pumps. Seemingly minor issues like dripping faucets should also be rectified as soon as possible. It is estimated that household leaks result in over 10,000 gallons of water wasted annually. With residents of NYC currently paying over $10 per 100 cubic feet as water and sewer charges, ignoring a leaky faucet in your home can be quite expensive.  

While it may be tempting to hire any available plumber to handle an emergency plumbing situation, it is always in your best interest to confirm that this individual is licensed and skilled enough to handle the job. It is also advisable to utilize the services of a qualified plumber who is familiar with your location. This way, the problem can be sorted out as quickly as possible before it leads to more expensive damages. 

You can find licensed plumbers near you by utilizing the Find a Plumber portal provided by the Master Plumbers Council of the City of New York. This portal also allows you to filter searches by the type of plumbing services that you require. You can also utilize third-party websites like Better Business Bureau to search for plumbers near you.  

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Plumbers in New York City? 

Per NYC’s RCNY §101-08, all licensed professionals in the city, including Master Plumbers, are required to maintain active and current general liability insurance. Evidence of this insurance policy is usually required before Master Plumbers can obtain permits, and the policy is expected to have a minimum coverage of $1 million per occurrence.

Note that the specific coverage requirements for the insurance policy of licensed professionals in NYC are usually dependent on the scope of the work that the professional is expected to perform. You can contact the NYC Department of Buildings at (212) 566-5000 to get information on the specific insurance requirements that have to be met by your intended plumber for the type of project that you wish to carry out.  

According to figures published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 91 fatal work injuries occurred in New York City in 2019, with about 26 of these fatalities occurring amongst construction-related professionals. Working with an insured plumber provides you with financial protection in the event of an unforeseen accident or injury occurring during your project, and you should always confirm that your intended professional has an active insurance policy.