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What Is Local Law 152 & How Will It Affect Me?

What is Local Law 152 & how will it affect me?

February 22, 2021

Local Law 152 requires that NYC buildings have their gas piping systems inspected periodically.

Introduced in 2016 as part of a gas line safety package, the law went into effect on January 1, 2019 and affects around 280,000 buildings across all boroughs.

To help clarify how this law might affect your building, below we’ll break down:

1. Which buildings the law applies to 

2. What the inspection will look for 

3. How much an inspection will cost 

4. When inspections are due 

5. Who can perform an inspection 

6. What happens if you need a repair 

If you recently had your Local Law 152 inspection and are in need of repairs, we can help. Request an appointment online or call (718) 767-0707. With 50+ years of experience and a team of licensed master plumbers, you can rest assured you’re in good hands with Ranshaw.

Which buildings do Local Law 152 apply to?

Local Law 152 applies to all buildings in New York City except those that are zoned R-3(two families or less).

Per NYC code, occupancy group R-3 includes the following types of buildings:

- One and two family dwellings 

- Convents/churches/monasteries with fewer than 20 occupants may fall under R-3 

- Some group homes may fall under R-3 

If you're unsure of your building’s property classification, you can find it on the Certificate of Occupancy and/or the Department of Finance website.

Don’t have gas pipes in your building? You’ll still need to submit an inspection certification proving that you don’t, and by the same due dates as buildings with gas. Your report can be certified by a registered design professional though, and not a licensed plumber.

What will the inspection look for?

Inspectors will be looking for “imminently dangerous conditions,” such as:

- Gas leaks (regardless of odor) 

- Illegal connections 

- Non-code compliant installations 

- Poorly maintained systems 

- Atmospheric corrosion 

- Piping deterioration 

- Carbon Monoxide detection 

- Meter problems 

- Fire or explosion risks 

If an unsafe condition is found, the inspector will report it to the building owner, Department of Buildings (DOB) and the utility company. If the danger is an immediate threat, it will require an immediate call to the utility company, DOB and owner and may result in an evacuation of the building.

Inspections do not include gas piping within apartments. Therefore, you won’t need to give tenants prior notice of the inspection.

During the inspection, all exposed gas lines in public areas of the building will be inspected, including:

- Points of entry into the building 

- Services meters 

- All gas piping in public spaces, such as: Hallways, Corridors, Mechanical rooms, Boiler rooms and Rooftops 

How much will an inspection cost?

Inspection costs can range from $1,000 and higher.

The cost depends on a number of factors, including:

- The number of gas meters 

- The size of your building 

- The length of exposed pipe 

- The number of mechanical rooms, laundry rooms and kitchens 

- The number of floors where gas is utilized 

- The hourly rate of the plumber you hire 

While there are no official filing fees charged by New York City, if you fail to submit certification of your inspection on or before the filing due date, you could be fined $10,000. You’ll still have to pay for an inspection, so don’t miss the deadline!

When are inspections due?

Inspections are organized by the community district (not borough) and are required every 4 years. See the below calendar for when your community district is due:

January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020*: Community Districts 1, 3, and 10 in all boroughs (*Extended until June 30, 2021) 

January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021: Community Districts 2, 5, 7, 13, and 18 in all boroughs 

January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022: Community Districts 4, 6, 8, 9, and 16 in all boroughs 

January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023: Community Districts 11, 12, 14, 15, and 17 in all boroughs 

In addition to the above calendar, a few other key deadlines and timelines include:

1. Filing:

30 days for the GPS1 (Inspection) Report - Once an inspection is complete, the inspector has 30 days to provide the building owner with a “Gas Piping System Periodic Inspection Report” (GPS1). This report provides the owner the results of the inspection, noting any unsafe conditions if found that need to be corrected. 

60 days for the GPS2 (Certification) Report - After the initial inspection, the building owner then has 60 days to file a “Gas Piping System Periodic Inspection Certification” (GPS2) with the Department of Buildings. This report must be signed and sealed by the same LMP who performed the initial inspection, even if repairs were made by another technician. 

120 days for repairs - If the GPS2 certification shows that conditions still need to be met, you have 120 days to make the repairs and file a new GPS2 report. 

180 days for repairs - If 120 days is not sufficient time to complete the repairs, you can request 180 days. 

2. Corrections: If you need to make a correction, any changes must be submitted within120 days from the certification date, as marked by the LMP on the GPS2 report. 3. Records: Building owners must keep all reports. Certifications on file for10 years. Records: Building owners must keep all reports. Certifications on file for10 years.

A note on new buildings: If your building is new, following the Certificate of Occupancy date after 12/31/2019, you won’t need another inspection for 10 years. After that, you’ll need to follow the same 4 year inspection cycle as noted [https://iagenergy.com/local-law-152/ local law 152 gas inspection] above.

Who can perform an inspection?

Inspections must be conducted by a “qualified gas piping system inspector” who has either of the below credentials:

1. They’re a Licensed Master Plumber (LMP).

Or

2. An individual working under the direct supervision of an NYC LMP meeting the following requirements:

- They have at least 5 years of full-time experience working under the direct and continuing supervision of an LMP 

- Has successfully completed a 7-hour training program acceptable to DOB. 

If you happen to need a repair, the contractor you hire doesn’t have to be the same as the original inspector. However, they do need the same qualifications (either a licensed NYC master plumber, or a qualified direct employee of the LMP).

What happens if I need a repair?

If your gas line needs a repair, it must be fixed and a new Inspection Certification submitted to the DOB within 120 days or 180 days if requested.

A couple of conditions can affect the timeline:

1. Hazardous Conditions - If the initial inspection reveals an unsafe or dangerous condition, the building owner must take immediate action to fix the repair. This can include shutting off the gas and/or evacuating the building.

2. Repairs requiring additional time to complete - If the repair is a major issue, the building owner can request an extension of 60 days, for a total of 180 days to fix the repair.

Regardless of the problem, the building owner is responsible for all costs and potential permits related to repairs.

Additionally, if gas service is interrupted in order to fix the repair, you won’t be able to turn it back on until the following steps are taken:

- Permit(s) filed with the DOB 

- Repair(s) are performed by a licensed master plumbing company 

- DOB inspection after work is completed 

- Inspection from gas company 

Need gas line repairs? Live in the Queens/NYC area. Need gas line repairs? We can help. Just contact us. We are licensed master plumbing company that will repair your gas lines safely and properly.