You may be wondering, “As a building owner, shouldn’t I have at least as much access as the media?” In a perfect world yes, but – reality check – not.
There is some logic in this. The press office can share information with a reporter, who in turn shares it with thousands of customers, as I will do about a law that applies to multi-family housing.
The Ministry of Buildings has one of the most responsive news agencies in the city government. So when I received a curious letter from JTG Master Plumbing about new gas inspection rates, I checked with DOB.
Local Law 152, effective in 2016, requires an inspection of the gas lines most multi-family homes every four years by a city-licensed plumber (or a qualified person working for a plumber).
Inspections started in 2020 and the second round is underway. Plumbers generally charged $600 per inspection, but at least there were no DOB filing fees.
However, that will happen soon, JTG’s letter warned.
But I was skeptical of the claim that “after February 22, 2026, the filing fee of up to $480 will apply for extensions, corrections and no gas deposits. This slows down planning and increases costs for everyone.”
Then came the pitch: “Avoid these new fees by completing your inspection before the rule change takes effect in February. We recommend that you complete your inspection and filing before the December 31 due date to avoid fees and penalties.”
From the letter I could not determine what the fee for my building would be and whether the deadline to avoid this is February 22 or December 31.
I wrote to JPG, who replied, but I was still confused. That’s why I emailed the DOB press office. Here are the facts:
New rules because Local Law 152 went into effect on January 3, 2026. Fourteen people commented on the proposed rules during the October hearing – hats off to these people! – but DOB has made no changes.
The new gas line inspection certification fee is $35. If you apply for an extension or submit a corrected application, you will also get $35 back.
What about the February deadline? There is none. DOB will begin collecting fees this summer, likely after posting a service notice here.
And the $480 filing fee paid by JPG bold and italic but couldn’t explain it? This applies to buildings without an active gas supply, but with gas pipes that can be used in the future. Not too much of that.
If your home is all-electric, congratulations… but you’re not done yet. Local Law 152 still requires you to declare that your building has no gas pipes.
A story inside The real deal about your all-electric coolness is not enough. You’ll still need to hire a master plumber and pay a $375 filing fee. The good news is that you only have to do it once.
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#gas #Completely #electric #law #pay