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Project Checklists for Owner: Plumbing

This section contains a list of questions/tasks to help owners, who are responsible for hiring professionals to provide compliance with the Construction Codes and other regulations discussed in the Project Guidelines.

Checklists include:

Initial Project Checklist

DO

  • Pre-Project: Hire a qualified Professional Engineer (P.E.) or Registered Architect (R.A.) to ensure your project is Code compliant.
  • Project Plans: Only P.E. or R.A. can submit construction documents, including drawings and other submissions, to DOB for approval.
  • Asbestos Investigation: Have asbestos investigation performed on site to check for Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) that will be removed or disturbed.
  • Project Work: Hire a Licensed Plumber to perform the work.  When hiring a Licensed Plumber, have a written contract that includes the contractor’s company name, address and license number(s).
  • Work Completion: Ensure Inspections and sign-off are performed to close the project permit.
  • Commissioning: If your project requires commissioning (projects where the permitted heating capacity exceeds 600 kBTU/h), ensure that you have a qualified commissioning agent to perform the work.

DON’T

  • Work Without a Permit: Do not begin work without a DOB permit. Property owners and the people performing work without a permit may face violations with, court appearances, civil and/or criminal penalties.

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Prior to Application Approval Checklist

  • Hire a Registered Design Professional (RDP), P.E. or R.A., to consult and finalize scope of work.
  • Provide consent of the project permit application, and authorize the P.E. or R.A. – who is the ‘Applicant of Record’ – to submit project Construction Documents for Department approval.
  • The Owner may attend plan examination appointments only if accompanied by the applicant or the filing representative.
  • Authorize the RDP, the Applicant of Record, to submit forms to DEP, Con Edison, National Grid, KeySpan, etc., as required to provide water, gas, electric, and other utilities for site connection.
  • A project approval is required prior to beginning work.
  • If commissioning is required, hire a Commissioning Agent.

*Note: The Owner of the building/property is ultimately responsible for the project, and their signature/consent is required for submission of the project application by their design professional, and Department approval.*

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Pre-Permit & On-going Project Work Checklist

  • Licensed Contractor: Hire NYC Licensed/Registered Contractor to obtain work permit in order to begin work.
  • Special Inspections: If the scope of work requires, hire the required Special Inspection Agency for performing Special/Progress Inspections.
  • Notify the Department: Prior to permit, provide the names of Special Inspection Agencies hired to do the Special Inspections, using an online submission.
  • Site Safety: Property Owners and Contractors must maintain their properties in a safe condition during the course of work.

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Project Completion Close-out Checklist

  • Special Inspections: If the scope of work requires, the Special Inspection Agency hired must complete and submit results online to the Department.
  • Department Inspections: Make sure the Contractor has completed all Department of Buildings inspections and obtained a sign-off of the completed work.
  • Utility Inspections: Make sure the Contractor has obtained inspections of the utilities by DEP, Con Edison, National Grid, KeySpan, etc. to authorize site connections.
  • Permit Sign-off: Contractor has requested and passed a final sign-off inspection required by the Department.
  • Commissioning: If commissioning is required, it must be completed prior to sign-off.

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Project Checklists for Owner Links

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