If you’re a building owner, landlord, or property manager in New York City, staying informed about Local Law 152 is essential to keeping your property safe, compliant, and penalty-free. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about this gas safety law and provides actionable steps to help you stay on top of your compliance requirements.
What is Local Law 152?
Local Law 152 is part of a series of safety measures introduced by New York City to prevent gas-related hazards. Focusing specifically on gas piping systems, the law mandates regular inspections to identify leaks and ensure proper functionality. The ultimate goal? To safeguard residents and reduce the risk of accidents caused by gas leaks in residential and commercial buildings.
Who is Affected by Local Law 152?
The law primarily impacts building owners, property managers, and landlords in New York City. If your building contains gas piping systems, whether residential or commercial, you are subject to this requirement. Exceptions may apply to certain one- or two-family homes, but it’s essential to confirm your building’s classification to know where you stand.
Which buildings must comply?
The LL152 applies to all buildings within the city’s five boroughs, except for those in occupancy group R-3. A building is classified in occupancy group R-3 if it houses at most 2 families only.
Periodic gas piping inspections are a must for all buildings that have a gas piping system. Buildings without a gas piping system must provide certification from a licensed design professional assuring their lack of such a system. It is estimated that the law affects 280,000 buildings in the city.
What are the Inspection Requirements?
Under Local Law 152, gas piping system inspections must be carried out every four years. Buildings in specific community districts must comply during designated cycles based on NYC regulations.
During the inspection, professionals will assess system integrity, check for leaks, and evaluate other potential hazards. Once complete, an inspection certification form (or affirmation of correction if necessary repairs were made) must be submitted to the NYC Department of Buildings within 60 days.
When is my inspection?
The gas piping inspection schedule in New York City is determined by your building’s community district, with inspections required every four years. The current schedule is as follows:
- Districts 1, 3, and 10: January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024
- Districts 2, 5, 7, 13, and 18: January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025
- Districts 4, 6, 8, 9, and 16: January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026
- Districts 11, 12, 14, 15, and 17: January 1, 2027 – December 31, 2027
After your initial inspection, subsequent inspections are due every four years, following the same schedule.
Building owners are required to submit the Gas Piping System Periodic Inspection Certification to the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) within 60 days of the inspection. Even if your building does not have a gas piping system, you must file a certification indicating its absence every four years.
To determine your building’s community district, you can use the NYC Department of City Planning’s online tool.
Please note that inspection deadlines are strict, and failure to comply may result in penalties. It’s advisable to schedule your inspection well before the due date to ensure timely compliance.
What is a Qualified Gas Operator (QGO), and What Do They Do?
Only a Qualified Gas Operator (QGO), such as a licensed master plumber, is authorized to perform Local Law 152 inspections. These professionals are trained to follow the city’s stringent safety procedures, ensuring every gas system component is thoroughly reviewed.
QGOs play a crucial role in keeping your property compliant, preparing detailed reports, addressing deficiencies they detect, and advising on corrective actions to mitigate potential risks.
Compliance and Potential Penalties
Failing to comply with Local Law 152 can result in hefty fines of up to $10,000 per violation. Beyond financial repercussions, non-compliance poses safety risks to tenants and liability concerns for building owners.
Timely inspections and adherence to filing deadlines help avoid these costly penalties while ensuring your property is up to code.
How to Schedule and Prepare for an Inspection
- Contact a Qualified Gas Operator – Work with a trusted and experienced inspector licensed in NYC. At A Good plumber, we have 3 Master Plumbers qualified for this work.
- Prepare for the Inspection – Ensure that gas meters are accessible and notify tenants about the scheduled inspection to avoid disruptions.
- Gather Relevant Documentation – Have previous inspection records and relevant system maintenance logs ready, as inspectors may request to review them.
- Schedule Repairs if Necessary – If deficiencies arise, address them promptly and file an Affirmation of Correction within 120 days.
Where to Find More Resources and Assistance
If managing compliance feels overwhelming, help is just a call away. NYC offers helpful resources through the Department of Buildings website to clarify schedules, requirements, and FAQs.
Need help with Local Law 152 compliance? Our team of licensed professionals is here to assist you every step of the way—from scheduling inspections to filing certifications. Don’t risk fines or system failure—contact us today to ensure your property meets Local Law 152 standards.
What A Good Plumber Inc. can do for you!
Are you looking for help with your gas piping system inspection in compliance with LL152? A satisfactory inspection is just a call away. Indeed, we are a licensed and insured plumbing and heating company in Brooklyn with 3 master plumbers on our team to help building owners comply with LL152.
Our licensed team carries out official full building inspections as per code and will allow you to evaluate, plan and budget in a way that suits your timeframe. We can even perform pre-inspections to reveal possible problematic areas before the official inspection.
We will provide you with two forms according to code:
- GPSI (Gas Piping System Periodic Inspection Report) within the first month of the inspection.
- GPS2 (Gas Piping System Periodic Inspection Certification) within 60 days of the gas piping inspection.
Also, we retain and maintain all reports and certification documents for 10 years, as required by law. You will also need to keep these in a file. To learn more about our gas safety inspection services, give us a call today, and we’ll slowly walk you through every step involved. Remember, non-compliance attracts a heavy fine; it’s always better to stay safe than sorry.
