01Homes in NYC and their plumbing
NYC had 3.7 million homes in 2023, and about 68% are rented. In most rentals the building handles plumbing repairs; owners, boards and landlords make the calls.
| Building type | Where you'll often find it | Typical plumbing concerns |
|---|---|---|
| Prewar apartment buildings | Manhattan, the Bronx, northern Brooklyn, Queens | Shared stacks, riser leaks, roof tanks, central hot water |
| Brownstones & rowhouses | Brooklyn, Harlem, parts of Queens | Cast iron, house traps, lead service lines |
| One- to three-family houses | Queens, Staten Island, south Brooklyn, the Bronx | Sewer backups, water heaters, frozen pipes |
| High-rise co-ops & condos | Manhattan, Long Island City, Downtown Brooklyn | Leaks between floors, booster pumps, valves |
02Common plumbing problems
- Sewer backups during intense rain: DEP resolved 2,851 backup complaints in fiscal 2024
- Cast-iron drains and galvanized supply pipes in older buildings
- Low pressure on upper floors in tank buildings
- Leaks between apartments
- At least 130,000 known lead service lines citywide (DEP, 2024)
03Licensing & permits
- Who can do the work
- NYC Licensed Master Plumbers, or people working under one. How to check a license
- Permits
- NYC Department of Buildings, filed in DOB NOW: Build. Permits explained
- Gas piping
- Buildings other than one- and two-family homes need periodic gas piping inspections under Local Law 152
- Service lines
- Owners maintain the water service line and building sewer up to the city mains; DEP maintains the mains
04Water, sewer & gas
- Water & sewer
- NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Report sewer backups from the city main and street flooding to 311
- Gas
- Con Edison (Manhattan, the Bronx, parts of Queens) or National Grid (Brooklyn, Staten Island, most of Queens)
- Lead service lines
- DEP publishes a building-by-building service line map
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.
05Boroughs
06NYC plumbing FAQ
Do NYC plumbers need a license?
Yes. Plumbing work in NYC must be performed by or under a Licensed Master Plumber licensed by the Department of Buildings.
Who fixes plumbing in a NYC rental?
Generally the building owner. Tell your super or managing agent first; if repairs aren't made, you can contact 311.
07Nearby areas
Sources & review
Last reviewed . General information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change and individual buildings differ.