Understanding Local Law 152 and Gas Testing

Gas can be safe to use in buildings, but it’s important to make sure the gas lines are in good working condition, as there are hazards when using an older or damaged system. To combat the potential hazards, New York City has implemented Local Law 152, which dictates when and how buildings need to have inspections of gas lines and components within their building. Now into effect, property owners should be aware of the law and what they need to do to stay in compliance.

What is Local Law 152?

Who Does Local Law 152 Testing Apply To?

All building owners must comply with Local Law 152 unless they are in occupancy group R-3, which means there are two or fewer families living in the building and less than 20 occupants in total. The law impacts more than a quarter of a million buildings in NYC. Those who wish to find out if their building is except will need to check the occupancy group classification on the building’s Certificate of Occupancy. If a building does not have gas pipes, the building owner must have that certified by a registered architect or engineer and the certification must be filed with the Department of Buildings. If this certificate is not filed, the building owner could be subject to penalties under Local Law 152, just like a building owner who does not complete the inspection on time.

The Requirements Under Local Law 152

There are several requirements under Local Law 152 that apply to all building owners who are not exempt. The building must be inspected by a qualified gas piping system inspector and the inspection must be done at least once every four years. Once the inspection is done, if no hazards are noted, the inspection certificate must be filed with the Department of Buildings. There are 60 days given for this to occur without penalty, and the inspector should return the completed certificate to the building owner within 30 days, providing ample time to comply. Building owners are also required to have the inspection reports and certifications on file for 10 years and to make them available to the Department of Buildings if requested.

Penalties for Failure to Comply

While the requirements can be complicated, the penalties are simple to understand. If a building owner does not comply with Local Law 152, meaning they do not have an inspection done or do not file the certificate in time, they can receive a penalty of up to $10,000. This penalty can be challenged within 30 days after it is received. After that point, the penalty will need to be paid by the building owner.

Remediation for Failure Under Local Law 152

If the inspection finds any issues with the gas piping system in the building, the inspector must notify the building owner and the Department of Buildings, as well as the utility company providing gas. The building owner must then bring the system up to code again. Work permits are required for any work done to the gas system and the building owner has 120 days to comply with the corrections. Within that 120 days, they must also have new inspections done and file the new inspection report with the Department of Buildings. An extension is available one time if needed.

Building owners in New York City, unless they own an exempt building, must make sure they comply with Local Law 152. Penalties for non-compliance are high, and the law is intended to help ensure buildings are safe for occupancy and free from any gas-related hazards. If it’s time for a building inspection, contact a qualified gas piping system inspector today to learn more about the process.

Inspections must be performed by a Licensed Master Plumber (LMP) by the deadline (see below) and the results must be reported to the Building Owner by DOB form GPS1 within 30 days of the inspection.

The certification of Inspection report “Gas Piping System Periodic Inspection Certification” - DOB form GPS2 must be filed with the DOB by the owner within 60 days of the inspection .

Date Range for Local Law 152 Inspections by Community District​

January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020

Districts: 1, 3 and 10 in all boroughs​

January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021

Districts: 2, 5, 7, 13, and 18 in all boroughs​

January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022

Districts: 4, 6, 8, 9, and 16 in all boroughs

January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023

Districts: 11, 12, 14, 15, and 17 in all boroughs

​Subsequent inspections must be completed no later than December 31st within every fourth calendar year thereafter.