01Homes in Staten Island and their plumbing
| Building type | Where you'll often find it | Typical plumbing concerns |
|---|---|---|
| Detached one-family houses | Todt Hill, Great Kills, Eltingville, Annadale, Huguenot, Tottenville | Water heaters, sump pumps, sewer laterals, irrigation |
| Two-family & attached homes | New Dorp, West Brighton, Port Richmond, Stapleton | Shared drains, one heater per unit, frozen pipes |
| Older houses near the ferry | St. George, Stapleton, Tompkinsville | Cast iron, galvanized supply, lead service lines |
| Shoreline homes | Midland Beach, South Beach, Oakwood Beach, Tottenville | Flood exposure, corrosion, backflow into basements |
02Common plumbing problems
- Basement water and sewer backups in low-lying areas
- Sewer lateral repairs and root intrusion
- Water heater replacement
- Frozen pipes in garages and crawlspaces
- Sump pump failures
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
- National Grid
- 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.
05Neighborhoods
- St. George
- Stapleton
- New Dorp
- Tottenville
- Great Kills
- Eltingville
- West Brighton
- Port Richmond
- Annadale
- Huguenot
- Todt Hill
06Staten Island plumbing FAQ
Is Staten Island under the same plumbing rules as the rest of NYC?
Yes. NYC Licensed Master Plumbers and DOB permits apply in all five boroughs.
Do I need a sump pump on Staten Island?
Many low-lying homes have one. A plumber can check whether your basement water is groundwater, a leak or a sewer backup. See water in the basement.
07Nearby areas
Sources & review
Last reviewed . General information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change and individual buildings differ.