Do I need a permit when converting from oil heat to gas In NYC?

Debo2100

I am considering switching from oil heating to gas heating . I already have a gas line coming into the house used for the stove . Do I need a permit in order to switch out the heating and hot water system to gas?

EBEBRATT-Ed

Yes. I am not in NY so others can respond @JohnNY

jumper

Who's going to know?

pecmsg

In NYC
A lot of people.
Then when you try to sell ooops!

Intplm.

Best to check with the permit folks. They will know best and to know that it's done right without any dangerous issues arising.

Robert O'Brien

YES

Debo2100

Thanks for the responses. Another question.. does anyone know if it’s true that currently it is not possible to get a permit in nyc for the conversion due to a law that Cuomo passed ?

JohnNY

You need a permit to alter gas pipe in any and every possible way in NYC. The one exception is when the alteration is an appliance replacement after the gas shutoff valve, providing the original gas valve remains in place and is within 24" of the new appliance. There are some areas in NYC, namely Brooklyn, where new gas service is not being issued. It's not a law. It's a mandate by the utility where demand is in danger of exceeding pipeline capacity.

Debo2100

Thanks JohnNY. Do you know if they are currently issuing permits for the Bronx? If not where is the best place for me to find out?

SlamDunk

I'm not a contractor but I have a house in the bronx.

A couple years ago we explored the possibility of exchanging oil heat for gas. We too, already had gas for stove and hot water heater. Here is what we learned from several contractors who looked at the job:

1) Three year waiting period
2) Dept of buildings will inspect house prior to issuing permit and any violations would have to be corrected prior to receiving permit.

We replaced with a more efficient oil furnace. We know we have violations. Dad was a (in)famous DIYer and, well, after living there for forty years, there are violations.

JohnNY

SlamDunk said:

1) Three year waiting period
2) Dept of buildings will inspect house prior to issuing permit and any violations would have to be corrected prior to receiving permit.

Wow. What shockingly wrong information.
I've never heard of a "3-year waiting period" for gas in my 20 years of being a licensed Plumber in New York City and the Dept of Buildings does not inspect anybody's house "prior to issuing a permit".
Wow. Somebody really badly wanted you to buy a new oil boiler.

jumper

In the olden days a lot of stuff was done without permits. And with all the codes today you might say there are even more violations out there. So where are all the dead people?

Regarding gas conversion my experience is that one must satisfy the utility. City permits are make work as near as I can tell. Countless times heat is on and city employee simply hasn't got around to closing file. How often do we see electric supply with twist-on? Utility hasn't replaced them because City never gets around to sending paperwork.

Catch 22 has only gotten worse:
>>1) Three year waiting period
2) Dept of buildings will inspect house prior to issuing permit and any violations would have to be corrected prior to receiving permit.<<

SlamDunk

JohnNY said:

SlamDunk said:

Wow. What shockingly wrong information.
I've never heard of a "3-year waiting period" for gas in my 20 years of being a licensed Plumber in New York City and the Dept of Buildings does not inspect anybody's house "prior to issuing a permit".
Wow. Somebody really badly wanted you to buy a new oil boiler.

I know!

That was a couple years ago and we did think it was the companys not wanting to go through the paperwork. Or deal with the mess we have.

But, it was five different companies. They were consistent. And, we have a neighbor pulled his oil furnace two years ago thinking it would be no big deal to convert to gas. As of last April, still no gas, no oil tank, heating house with space heaters.

He may have issues he doesnt want to talk about and prefers to blame con ed, But he has no central heating. We just decided to stick with oil. Path of least resistance.

SlamDunk

I will also add that while our new furnace was going in, Con Ed mistakenly capped the gas line to the house from the street. When my brother talked to the supervisor the supervisor said there was a mistake and he was glad he showed up because it would have been next to impossible to get it reconnected after the hole was filled. Heck, they just repaired the sidewalk a month ago! So, Im not so sure we were fed a line...NYC is tough

SlamDunk

As I said, NYC is tough!

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/09/nyregion/building-violations-fines-debt.html?action=click&module=News&pgtype=Homepage