New York plumbing license requirements and insurance
To work for yourself as a plumber in New York, you need the Licensed Master Plumber (New York City) license. New York has 3 plumbing license types, and which one you need depends on the work you take on. The state's minimum liability insurance is $1,000,000, and workers' comp is required. The state does not ask for a bond.
Who it applies to
1Who needs a plumbing license in New York? What is this?
Home Improvement Contractor license (New York City): anyone doing repair or remodeling work on a home in New York City. It comes from Consumer and Worker Protection, not the Department of Buildings
| License | Who needs it | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Master Plumber (New York City) | Anyone doing plumbing work in the five boroughs, or the person supervising everyone who does | All plumbing work in New York City, including gas piping. Your business must be at least 51 percent owned by licensed master plumbers |
| Gas Work Qualification (New York City) | Anyone who works on gas piping in New York City who is not a licensed master plumber | Gas work under Local Law 150 of 2016. With the full qualification you work under the direct and continuing supervision of a licensed master plumber. With the limited one you work under the personal and immediate supervision of someone holding the full qualification or a master plumber |
| Home Improvement Contractor license (New York City) | Anyone doing repair or remodeling work on a home in New York City. It comes from Consumer and Worker Protection, not the Department of Buildings | Construction, repair and remodeling work on any home or residential land in the city |
| Outside New York City | Anyone doing plumbing work anywhere else in New York State | There is no state license. Your city, town, village or county decides whether you need one, and what it costs |
Who runs it
2Who issues plumber licenses in New York? What is this?
New York State has no plumbing board. In New York City the Department of Buildings (DOB) licenses master plumbers issues plumbing licenses in New York.
See how this compares in every state: How to check a contractor's license, state by state
| Name | New York State has no plumbing board. In New York City the Department of Buildings (DOB) licenses master plumbers |
|---|---|
| Website | nyc.gov |
| Look up a license | a810-bisweb.nyc.gov |
| The law | New York City Administrative Code, title 28, chapter 4, article 408 |
| The rulebook | New York City Administrative Code, title 28, chapter 4, article 401, which sets fees, terms and insurance |
| Does the state license this trade? | None. New York State does not issue a plumbing contractor license |
| Outside New York City | Your city or county licenses you, and the rules change at the county line. Ask the building department where the job is before you quote |
Checked by a person against the official page
Getting licensed
3How to become a plumber in New York What is this?
New York has 4 licenses that matter to a plumber: Licensed Master Plumber (New York City), Gas Work Qualification (New York City), Home Improvement Contractor license (New York City), Outside New York City. Each is below, with what you need before you apply.
| License | Experience required | Training required | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Master Plumber (New York City) | Seven years of plumbing work in the ten years before you apply. At least two of those years must be as a DOB-registered journeyman plumber. A mechanical engineering degree cuts it to five years within seven. A licensed architect or professional engineer needs three years within five | None set by the department. The experience has to be under a licensed master plumber | Yes, a written exam then a practical exam, both run by the Department of Buildings. You need 70 percent to pass, and you get 24 months after the written exam to pass the practical |
| Gas Work Qualification (New York City) | For the full qualification, be a DOB-registered journeyman plumber, or finish a state-approved apprenticeship plus one year of supervised work, or do five years of supervised gas work. For the limited one, six months of supervised plumbing work | The limited qualification needs a Department of Buildings gas work course of at least 16 hours, or you register in an approved apprenticeship | Yes for the full qualification. Fifty questions in two hours, and you need 70 percent |
| Home Improvement Contractor license (New York City) | — | — | Yes, a written exam |
| Outside New York City | — | — | — |
What it costs
4How much does a plumbing license cost in New York? What is this?
The government fees on this page add up to about $1,365 in New York. Add insurance, tools, and a vehicle to get the real number.
| License | Retaking the exam | First license | First registration | Exam fee | Late renewal, 31 days or more | Late renewal, up to 30 days late | Licence fee, March to August of an even year | Licence fee, March to August of an odd year | Licence fee, September of an even year to February | Licence fee, September of an odd year to February | Practical exam application | Renewal, every three years | Seal, first issue | Seal, renewal | Trust fund enrollment | Written exam application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Master Plumber (New York City) | — | $200 | — | — | $100 | $50 | — | — | — | — | $530 | $150 | $50 | $75 | — | $585 |
| Gas Work Qualification (New York City) | — | — | $50 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $585 |
| Home Improvement Contractor license (New York City) | $50 | — | — | Included in the license fee, which covers two attempts | — | — | $100 | $200 | $50 | $150 | — | — | — | — | $200 | — |
Added up
| Government fees, added up | $1,365 |
|---|
New York City only. Does not include insurance premiums, tools, a vehicle, permit fees, or a home improvement license. Outside the city the cost depends on your local building department
Our estimate
Insurance
5How much plumbing insurance do you need in New York? What is this?
The least liability insurance New York lets a plumber work with is $1,000,000. Most customers ask for more. Workers' comp is required.
| Minimum liability insurance | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Type of policy | Commercial general liability, per occurrence |
| Property damage insurance | Required as well. The amount is set by department rule |
| Who this applies to | Every master plumber business in New York City, before the license is issued and again at every renewal |
| Who must be named on the certificate | Not named in the code. Consumer and Worker Protection must be the certificate holder on the workers' compensation certificate for a home improvement license |
| Workers' comp required? | Yes. Every employer in New York must carry it, and you cannot get a city permit or license without proof |
| Who can opt out | A business with no employees at all can file a free Certificate of Attestation of Exemption, form CE-200, to show a government office that it does not need cover |
| Disability and paid family leave insurance | Also required, on top of workers' compensation. The city checks it before it issues or renews your license |
| Workers' comp: if you skip it |
|
Checked by a person against the official page
·7 official pages
- nycadmincode.readthedocs.io/t28/c04/art401/
- nyc.gov/site/buildings/industry/licensing-insurance-guidelines.page
- wcb.ny.gov/content/main/Employers/lp_permits-licenses-contracts.jsp
- wcb.ny.gov/content/ebiz/wc_db_exemptions/exemption-certificates.jsp
- wcb.ny.gov/content/main/Employers/violations-wclaw.jsp
- nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/WKC/10
- nyc.gov/site/dca/businesses/license-checklist-home-improvement-contractor.page
Money checks
6Does New York check your credit for a plumber license? What is this?
New York does not check your credit for this license.
| Credit score you need | None. New York does not look at your credit for a plumbing license |
|---|---|
| If your score is lower | Not needed. New York City runs a background check on your character instead |
Checked by software against the official page
Bonds
7Does a plumber need a bond in New York? What is this?
New York does not require a state bond for this license. Some cities ask for one before they issue permits.
| Does the state require a bond? | No |
|---|---|
| Amount | Not listed yet |
| Home improvement bond | $20,000 |
New York has no state bond because it has no state license. New York City does not ask a master plumber for one. A home improvement license needs either a $20,000 bond or a $200 payment into the city trust fund. Other cities and counties may ask for their own bond before you pull permits
Checked by software against the official page
Showing your number
8Where must a New York plumber show the license number? What is this?
In New York: your business vehicles, your advertising, your website and your letterhead must all show your full name, the words "N.Y.C. licensed plumber", your license number and your business address.
| The rule | Your business vehicles, your advertising, your website and your letterhead must all show your full name, the words "N.Y.C. licensed plumber", your license number and your business address |
|---|---|
| What the number looks like | A trade name, partnership name or company name goes immediately above your own name, and you must tell the department the name before you use it |
| If you forget | The department can act against your license. No fixed fine was found |
| On your vehicles | Yes. Every business vehicle must carry it |
Checked by software against the official page
Tax
9Does a plumber charge sales tax on labor in New York? What is this?
Whether New York taxes your labor, your materials, or neither.
See how this compares in every state: Can you charge sales tax on labor? The rule in 25 states
| What this tax is | New York taxes contractor work by asking one question. Did the job improve the property for good, or did it just keep it working |
|---|---|
| Capital improvement (a job that becomes part of the building) | No sales tax on your bill. Get a signed Certificate of Capital Improvement, form ST-124, from the customer and keep it for three years |
| The three tests for a capital improvement |
|
| Repair and maintenance work | You charge tax on the whole bill, labor and materials together. Replacing a faucet, fixing a leak and clearing a drain all count |
| New buildings | Treated as a capital improvement. No tax on your bill |
| Materials on work that becomes part of the building | You pay sales tax at the supply house and you cannot buy them with a resale certificate. You are the final buyer, so build the tax into your price |
| Materials on taxable repairs | You pay tax at the supply house, charge the customer tax on the whole bill, then claim a credit for the tax you paid on your own return |
| Tax-exempt customers | A church, school, charity or government body signs form ST-120.1 and you charge no tax |
| When you are the subcontractor | A main contractor buys your work with form ST-120.1 and charges the customer tax on the whole job |
| Tax rate | 4 percent state, plus the county or city rate. An extra 0.375 percent applies in the downstate commuter district |
Checked by a person against the official page
Getting paid
10Getting paid: lien and notice deadlines for a New York plumber What is this?
If you are not paid in New York, a lien on the property is your backstop, but only if your notice goes out on time: not applicable before the lien.
| Who has to send a notice | Nobody. New York has no preliminary notice on private jobs. You file the lien first, then serve a copy |
|---|---|
| Send your notice by | Not applicable before the lien |
| File your lien by | File your notice of lien at the county clerk's office within eight months of the day the job ended (last day of work June 1 means you file by February 1) |
| Deadline for a single-family home | Four months on a single family home (last day of work June 1 means you file by October 1) |
| Retainage (money held back until the end) | If the lien is only for money held back, you get 90 days from the day that money was due to be released |
| Copy to the owner | Serve a copy on the owner between five days before and thirty days after you file. Then file proof of service with the county clerk within 35 days of filing, or the lien dies |
| Who can file a lien | Contractors, subcontractors, laborers and suppliers who worked with the owner's consent or at the request of the owner, an agent, a contractor or a subcontractor |
Checked by software against the official page
Keeping it
11How do you renew a plumbing license in New York? What is this?
The Home Improvement Contractor license (New York City) renews every two years, ending 28 February in odd years.
| License | Renewal | Training hours each renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Master Plumber (New York City) | Every three years | — |
| Gas Work Qualification (New York City) | The full qualification never expires. The limited one runs out five years after it is issued and cannot be renewed | — |
| Home Improvement Contractor license (New York City) | Every two years, ending 28 February in odd years | — |
Renewal fees are in what the license costs. The official page for each license is linked under how you get it.
Watch out
12What catches people out in New York What is this?
The things people get wrong or do not expect about New York, in a few sentences.
- New York State issues no plumbing license. Licensing is left to cities and counties, and New York City runs the biggest scheme. Your city or county licenses you, and the rules change when you cross the county line.
- In New York City the license belongs to a person, not to a company. A plumbing business must be at least 51 percent owned by licensed master plumbers, and every job must be done by one or under their direct supervision.
- The New York City exams cost more than most state licenses in the country. The written exam application is $585 and the practical exam application is $530, before the $200 license fee.
- Your trucks, your website, your ads and your letterhead must all show your name, the words "N.Y.C. licensed plumber", your license number and your business address.
- New York has no preliminary notice on private jobs. You file the lien first, then serve a copy on the owner within five days before or thirty days after filing.
- You have eight months after the job ends to file a lien, but only four months on a single family home.
Checked by a person against the official page
·6 official pages
- dos.ny.gov/building-standards-and-codes
- nyc.gov/site/buildings/industry/obtain-a-master-plumber-license.page
- nyc.gov/site/buildings/industry/master-plumbers-master-fire-suppression-piping-contractor.page
- nycadmincode.readthedocs.io/t28/c04/art408/
- nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/LIE/10
- nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/LIE/11
13Where these numbers come from
The labels under each table are explained on how to read a page.
- dos.ny.gov/building-standards-and-codes
- nyc.gov/site/buildings/industry/obtain-a-master-plumber-license.page
- nyc.gov/site/buildings/industry/master-plumbers-master-fire-suppression-piping-contractor.page
- nycadmincode.readthedocs.io/t28/c04/art408/
- nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/LIE/10
- nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/LIE/11
- nycadmincode.readthedocs.io/t28/c04/art401/
- nyc.gov/site/buildings/industry/master-plumbers-renew-license.page
- nyc.gov/site/buildings/industry/full-gaswork-qualifications.page
- nyc.gov/site/buildings/industry/limited-gaswork-qualifications.page
- nyc.gov/site/dca/businesses/license-checklist-home-improvement-contractor.page
- nyc.gov/site/buildings/industry/licensing-insurance-guidelines.page
- wcb.ny.gov/content/main/Employers/lp_permits-licenses-contracts.jsp
- wcb.ny.gov/content/ebiz/wc_db_exemptions/exemption-certificates.jsp
- wcb.ny.gov/content/main/Employers/violations-wclaw.jsp
- nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/WKC/10
- codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCadmin/0-0-0-159782
- tax.ny.gov/pubs_and_bulls/tg_bulletins/st/capital_improvements.htm
- tax.ny.gov/pubs_and_bulls/tg_bulletins/st/repair_maintenance.htm
- tax.ny.gov/pubs_and_bulls/tg_bulletins/st/contractors-sales_tax_credits.htm
- tax.ny.gov/bus/st/rates.htm
- tax.ny.gov/pdf/publications/sales/pub862.pdf
- nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/LIE/3