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Project Requirements:
1- and 2-Family Mixed Use (Alterations): Allowable Work Without A Registered Design Professional Submitting Construction Documents For Department Approval

Permits are tied to the project scope of work and work type, and the permits are regulated according to the nature of the work, licensing, and registration requirements for the work being performed. There are several aspects of Alteration work, including but not limited to piping, fuel-burning equipment, ductwork, air-conditioning equipment, electric wiring, and the repair or replacement of interior/exterior finishes, which can only be performed by contractors with specialized licenses to perform such required work, and permits are issued to these registered trade license holders.

Master Plumber

The work outlined below can only be performed by a Licensed Master Plumber. However, if the plumbing project exceeds the work allowed under the categories of limited plumbing alteration work listed below, a Registered Design Professional must submit construction plans for approval by DOB in order to obtain a work permit.

Limited Plumbing Alterations

Administrative Code 28-101.5 defines Limited Plumbing Alteration, specifying repair to a plumbing or fuel gas piping system that is limited in scope under two categories:

Category 1: With Cost and time period limitation.  $35,000 cost limitation per building including appliance and labor in any 12-month period – only the following can be done:

  1. Addition of Plumbing Fixtures or Connections. Add five or less fixtures within any 12-month period

  2. New Piping. Installation of new plumbing or fuel gas piping – Not including Category 2 work

  3. New Sprinkler Heads. Installation of up to five new heads, only off an existing domestic water system within any 12-month period

  4. Rearrange Sprinkler Heads. Rearrange not more than 20 sprinkler heads, only off an existing domestic water system and only in areas classified in light or ordinary hazard occupancies, such as residences, restaurant service areas, or mercantile areas

  5. Standpipe Piping and Parts. In-kind replacement of piping and parts required for the operation of a standpipe provided that a sprinkler is not connected

  6. Standpipe System Parts. Replacement of parts required for the operation of a standpipe system that is not a combined standpipe system

Category 2: Without cost and time period limitation. Only the following can be done:

  1. Piping. Reroute existing plumbing or fuel gas branch piping to serve the same number of existing fixtures and appliances

  2. Replace Fixtures. In-kind replacement of plumbing fixtures or gas appliances, which exceeds a minor alteration/repair or ordinary plumbing work

  3. Relocate Existing Fixtures. Relocation and mounting of new fixtures on existing roughing, which exceeds a minor alteration/repair or ordinary plumbing work

  4. Backflow Preventers. Installation or replacement of primary backflow preventers

  5. Gas-fired Boilers. Replacement of gas-fired boilers [1 million Btu/h (293 kW) or less]

  6. Gas Burners. Replace gas burners [2.8 million Btu/h (821 kW) or less]

  7. Relocate Gas Burner/Boiler. Relocate gas burner/boiler within the same unaltered fire-rated enclosure, or room

  8. Direct-vent Appliances: In-kind replacement of direct-vent appliances including gas-fired boilers, hot water heaters and furnaces, but serving only one or two-family homes that are four stories or less

  9. Direct-vent Gas Dryer (domestic): Installation of new single domestic direct-vent gas dryer serving only one or two family homes four stories or less

  10. Temporary Gas-fired Boiler: Placement of a registered gas fired temporary boiler at a site for emergency heat

  11. Sprinkler Heads. Replace up to thirty existing sprinkler heads provided such heads’ orifice size, type and deflector remain the same, and only off of a domestic water system.

Licensed Electrician

A new installation, alteration, or repair of electric wires, wiring apparatuses and appliances or equipment shall be performed by a New York City licensed electrical contractor. All electrical work such as, but not limited to, installing conduits, wires, lighting fixtures and switches, panelboards, fire alarm devices, boiler line voltage work and controls, require an electrical permit before commencing such electrical work.

The electrical contractor shall coordinate with the Registered Design Professional (RDP), other members of the design team, and all other construction trade contractors where projects have other aspects to the work in addition to electrical. For such projects, DOB only requires the submission of a separate electrical permit application. When an electrical permit application by the Licensed Electrical Contractor includes a large electrical installation (see classifications of large installations under electrical plan examination listed below) or requires NYC Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC) compliance, such an electrical permit application must reference the general project application number for permit issuance.

Electrical construction documents are not required to be submitted by a Registered Design Professional to DOB as part of the electrical or general permit application, however,  electrical construction documents must be submitted to DOB to obtain an electrical permit as follows:

  • Electrical Plan Examination.  Submitted by either a Registered Design Professional or a Licensed Electrician
    • Electrical equipment with a capacity of 1000 KVA or larger
    • Electrical installation that utilizes 1000 Volt or higher
    • Additions to electrical service installations that bring the total to 1000 KVA or higher
  • Fire Department Requirements. Construction documents, prepared by a Registered Design Professional, shall be part of the project submittal for new installations or alterations of an existing fire alarm system.  Review shall be performed by an FDNY Plan Examiner.

Additional Requirements for Registrant

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