01Homes in Hudson County and their plumbing
About 725,000 people lived in Hudson County at the 2020 Census.
| Building type | Where you'll often find it | Typical plumbing concerns |
|---|---|---|
| Rowhouses & brownstones | Hoboken, Downtown Jersey City, The Heights, Union City | Cast iron, galvanized supply, storm backups |
| Waterfront high-rises | Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, West New York | Booster pumps, leaks between units |
| Two- & three-family houses | Bayonne, North Bergen, Kearny, Harrison, Greenville | Shared drains, water heaters per unit, lead lines |
| Mid-rise apartment buildings | Union City, West New York, Guttenberg | Risers, stacks, central hot water |
02Common plumbing problems
- Storm backups and street flooding in low-lying Hoboken and Jersey City neighborhoods
- Lead service lines in older housing
- Leaks between units in condos and co-ops
- Kitchen stack clogs in older apartment buildings
- Water heater replacement
03Licensing & permits
- Who can do the work
- NJ licensed master plumbers, or employees under their supervision. A homeowner may work on their own single-family home. Details
- Permits
- Construction office of your municipality, under the NJ Uniform Construction Code. How NJ permits work
- Plumbing code
- National Standard Plumbing Code (UCC plumbing subcode)
- Lead service lines
- NJ water utilities must replace lead service lines, generally within 10 years of the 2021 law; you may get a letter from yours
04Water, sewer & gas
- Water
- Jersey City MUA (Jersey City), Veolia (Hoboken and other towns), and local utilities
- Gas
- PSE&G
- Sewer
- Jersey City MUA, North Hudson Sewerage Authority (Hoboken and north Hudson towns), and municipal systems; older areas have combined sewers
Providers vary by street and town. Your bill shows which one serves your address. Smell gas? Leave and call 911 or your gas utility from outside.
05Cities & towns
- Jersey City →
- Hoboken →
- Union City
- West New York
- North Bergen
- Weehawken
- Bayonne
- Secaucus
- Guttenberg
- Harrison
- Kearny
06Hudson County plumbing FAQ
Why does Hoboken flood and back up in heavy rain?
Much of Hoboken is low-lying and served by a combined sewer that carries rain and wastewater together; during intense storms it can fill up. See Hoboken and sewer backup.
07Nearby areas
Sources & review
Last reviewed . General information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change and individual buildings differ.