One recent change to New York City’s Local Law 152 is set to impact owners of multifamily buildings, regardless of whether their properties use gas or are fully electric. The law, passed in 2016, requires most multifamily buildings to have their gas piping inspected every four years by a licensed master plumber or a qualified person working for one.
Inspections began in 2020 and the second round is currently underway. Traditionally, plumbers have charged around $600 per inspection, but there was no filing fee from the Department of Buildings (DOB) until now.
A letter from JTG Master Plumbing recently warned that “after Feb. 22, 2026, filing fees of up to $480 will apply for extensions, corrections, and no gas filings. This will slow down scheduling & increase costs for everyone.” The letter also advised building owners: “Avoid these new costs by completing your inspection before the rule change takes effect in February. We recommend that you complete your inspection and filing before the Dec. 31 due date to prevent fees and penalties.”
However, after clarification from the DOB press office, it was confirmed that new rules for Local Law 152 took effect on January 3, 2026. Fourteen people commented at an October hearing on the proposed rules; however, DOB did not make any changes based on this feedback.
The updated regulation introduces a $35 fee for certification of each gas piping inspection and an additional $35 charge for requesting an extension or submitting a corrected filing. There is no February deadline as suggested in the plumbing company’s letter; instead, DOB will begin collecting these fees during summer after publishing a service notice on its official site.
The higher $480 filing fee mentioned applies only to buildings without active gas service but with existing gas piping that could be used in the future—a situation relevant to relatively few properties.
Owners of all-electric buildings are also affected by Local Law 152. They must still certify that their property has no gas piping present—requiring them to hire a master plumber and pay a one-time $375 filing fee.
