DIY plumbing? Here's when you'll need a permit
DIY plumbing isn't always legal, depending on where you live. Ensure you're up to code and check if the task requires a permit.
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Your home is, well, your home, so you might think you should be able to do whatever you want. However, when you're working on plumbing, that's far from the case. Plumbing projects, both large and small, need to be executed to code, and that's just as true when you're doing the plumbing work yourself as it is when you hire someone.
That's understandable when you read about some of the disasters that can happen when plumbing goes wrong. A poorly installed sink might only cause a small leak, but improperly connected gas pipes can be deadly, and a cross-connected sewer pipe could contaminate drinking water. Additionally, permit fees generate income for cities and states, making them an important source of municipal revenue. For example, Tarrytown, Pa., charges $120 for a plumbing permit fee .
Cities from Houston to New York City have plumbing regulations, though they can vary widely. While handy plumbing guides can help you ensure your DIY projects are up to code, you also need to make sure they're permitted.
DIY plumbing and local regulations
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Many counties and cities require permits for plumbing projects, both big and small. These projects may need to be inspected afterward as well, depending on your jurisdiction. For example, New York City takes plumbing permits seriously, and people who work on plumbing without proper permitting can face penalties, court appearances and criminal charges for doing so.
Follow the plumbing code
While the permitting requirements of communities vary, there is a standard code that applies to the whole of the country: the National Standard Plumbing Code . There are ample tools online that can help you ensure your project adheres to the code.
However, local permitting laws take precedence. Check community resources to establish what plumbing tasks need permitting. If the information you need is not online, call your city or county. Your local government's building department should be able to point you to the information you need.
What does and doesn't require a plumbing permit?
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Because it's highly dependent on your local jurisdiction, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to whether a plumbing project requires a permit for the whole country. However, the larger the task, the more likely it is to require one.
Plumbing tasks that require a permit
In many parts of the country, most significant plumbing projects, from adding fixtures to plumbing an addition to the house, or replacing a sewer line, will all need permits.
In New York City , for example, any pipe replacement not only requires a permit but also necessitates the supervision of a master plumber or a master fire suppression piping contractor. The town of Sleepy Hollow , N.Y., is stricter, requiring any plumbing task that must conform to the Universal Plumbing Code to be permitted and performed by a contractor who is licensed with Westchester County.
Plumbing tasks that don't require a permit
In many cities, such as New York, simple plumbing repairs or replacements can be done without a permit. This means you can swap out a sink or toilet with another model that's plumbed the same, without getting a permit. You could also tighten pipes or replace a basic component on a sink, like the hardware that plugs the drain.
Emergency pipe repair may also be fair game. However, if your job requires you to alter the setup of the pipe or replace it, you should get a permit.
If you can't follow plumbing codes, don't DIY
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Whether you're unable to follow codes on a plumbing job you'd like to do, or can't figure out whether you need a permit in the first place, don't start a plumbing job without checking if it needs one. In these cases, it's smarter to hire a plumber.
Master plumbers will know any code requirements for the work that's required, and they'll be able to file the permit correctly. While a plumber might be expensive , it's better to pay a professional than to bungle the job or risk a code violation.
