New York Master Plumber License Requirements (2026)

New York does not license plumbers at the state level. The dominant credential is the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) Master Plumber License, administered under Title 28 Subchapter 3 of the NYC Administrative Code and 1 RCNY §11-01. Every plumbing business operating in the five boroughs must have a NYC-licensed Master Plumber as the qualifier. Outside of NYC, several upstate cities (Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse) and most Long Island and Westchester jurisdictions maintain their own plumbing licensing programs.

The Licensing Authority

Authority over this credential rests with New York City Department of Buildings (Licensing Unit) (NYC DOB), which issues and polices it under New York City Administrative Code Title 28 (Construction Codes); Rules of the City of New York Title 1 Chapters 11, 26 (electrical), 27 (plumbing); New York State Education Law Article 145 does NOT apply to construction trades.. NYC DOB issues and administers construction trade licenses for the five boroughs, including General Contractor, Master Plumber, Master Electrician, Master Fire Suppression Piping Contractor, and Class A and B Oil Burner Equipment Installers. DOB enforces violations through its Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).

Official portal: https://www.nyc.gov/site/buildings/business/licenses.page
Address: 280 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10007
Phone: (212) 393-2259

Baseline Eligibility

The applicant must be at least 21 years of age and possess a valid Social Security Number. No state residency requirement. NYC DOB requires the qualifier to appear in person at the Licensing Unit in Manhattan.

Good moral character

NYC DOB conducts a fitness review on every applicant under 1 RCNY §11-01. Convictions for fraud, theft, or any felony within the prior ten years are reviewed individually.

Background investigation

NYC DOB conducts an FBI/NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services fingerprint background check.

Experience and Education Requirements

A minimum of seven years of progressive experience in the planning, layout, installation, and supervision of plumbing systems, all of which must be performed under the direct and continuing supervision of a NYC-licensed Master Plumber must be documented and verified. Unless the board publishes a different lookback period, applicants should keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records that support the claimed experience.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Form PLBR-1 — Master Plumber Application
Notarized affidavits from each supervising NYC Master Plumber documenting dates and scope of work
W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records covering the full seven-year period
NYC DOB Journeyman Plumber Certificate of Competence (where applicable)

Education substitution

NYC does not allow education to substitute for the seven-year supervised experience requirement. All seven years must be hands-on plumbing work under a NYC-licensed Master Plumber.

The Licensing Examination

Testing is handled by NYC Department of Buildings (in-house). The applicant has to pass each part listed here before the credential is granted:

Master Plumber Written Examination — NYC Plumbing Code, NYC Fuel Gas Code, NYC laws and rules — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $525 examination fee paid to NYC DOB at application; the practical exam is administered separately at the DOB testing facility in Long Island City.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken every six months, with a maximum of three attempts before reapplication is required.

Financial Security and Insurance

Before the license is issued, the applicant must file a $25,000 contractor license surety bond in the form prescribed by the NYC DOB.

General liability

NYC DOB requires $1,000,000 commercial general liability per occurrence and a $25,000 surety bond from each licensed Master Plumber under 1 RCNY §11-02. Most owners contractually require $2,000,000/$4,000,000 for commercial work.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation and disability benefits insurance are mandatory under NYS WCL §10.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$525
Initial license	$50
Renewal (every 3 years)	$50

License Renewal

The New York City Master Plumber License must be renewed every 3 years. The fee to renew is presently $50. NYC Master Plumber licenses renew every three years.

Continuing education: NYC DOB requires continuing education hours covering NYC Plumbing Code updates, NYC Fuel Gas Code, and safety topics each renewal cycle.

Downloadable Asset

2026 New York Plumber License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

New York grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

NYC DOB does not recognize any out-of-state Master Plumber credential. Out-of-state Master Plumbers must satisfy the full NYC experience and examination requirements.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Plumber license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Licensing Roadmap

Accumulate seven years of NYC-supervised plumbing experience. All seven years must be under direct and continuing supervision of a NYC-licensed Master Plumber. Experience in other jurisdictions does not count.
Collect notarized supervisor affidavits. Each supervising NYC Master Plumber must provide a notarized affidavit. NYC DOB cross-checks the affidavit signatures against its license database.
Submit the Master Plumber Application (Form PLBR-1). File via DOB NOW: Licensing with the $525 examination fee, fingerprints, business references, and supervisor affidavits.
Pass the written examination. Score 70% or better on the 100-question Master Plumber Written Examination covering the NYC Plumbing Code, NYC Fuel Gas Code, and NYC laws and rules.
Pass the practical examination. Score 70% or better on the practical at the DOB testing facility in Long Island City. The practical includes pipe sizing, joining, fixture installation, and gas piping.
Procure insurance and post the surety bond. Provide the $1,000,000 commercial general liability certificate, workers compensation and disability benefits certificates, and the $25,000 surety bond.
Attend the in-person interview. Appear at 280 Broadway, 6th Floor, Manhattan for the Licensing Unit interview. Bring all original documents.
Receive the Master Plumber license. NYC DOB issues the license card after the interview. The license must be renewed every three years.

Common Application Pitfalls

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a New York Plumber application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Counting non-NYC experience

All seven years must be under a NYC-licensed Master Plumber. Plumbing work in any other jurisdiction does NOT count toward the requirement, no matter how extensive.

Self-collected supervisor affidavits

NYC DOB rejects affidavits that appear to have been completed by the applicant. Each supervising Master Plumber must complete and sign in front of a notary.

Underestimating the gas portion of the practical

The NYC practical exam includes a fuel gas piping section that catches many candidates off guard. Bring practical experience with black-iron and CSST gas piping to the test.

Forgetting the $25,000 bond

NYC DOB will not issue or renew a Master Plumber license without the $25,000 surety bond on file.

Assuming reciprocity

NYC has no reciprocity for Master Plumbers. Out-of-state Master Plumbers must complete the full NYC application from scratch, including the seven-year NYC-supervised experience.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Ahead of submission to NYC DOB, confirm every item on this short list:

☐ NYC DOB Master Plumber Application (Form PLBR-1) with $525 fee
☐ Notarized supervisor affidavits totaling seven years of NYC-supervised experience
☐ Commercial general liability insurance — $1,000,000 minimum per occurrence
☐ Workers compensation and disability benefits insurance certificates
☐ $25,000 surety bond on file with NYC DOB

Preparation Resources

These materials are drawn from the regulator's own citations and the references applicants commonly use to prepare. CLR receives no compensation for listing them.

NYC Plumbing Code (NYC Administrative Code Title 28 Subchapter 3) — City of New York. Primary technical reference for the NYC Master Plumber written examination.
NYC Fuel Gas Code — City of New York. Tested heavily on the gas piping portion of both written and practical exams.
1 RCNY Chapters 11 and 27 — City of New York. NYC DOB licensing rules.
International Plumbing Code (current edition) — International Code Council. NYC adopts portions of the IPC with extensive local amendments.

Other New York Trade Licenses

Looking at a different trade? CLR also publishes these New York licensing guides:

Answers to Common Questions

Does New York State license plumbers?

No. New York does not license plumbers at the state level. Plumbing licensing is administered locally — overwhelmingly by the NYC Department of Buildings, with separate municipal programs in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and on Long Island.

How many years of experience does NYC require for a Master Plumber license?

Seven years of progressive plumbing experience, all of which must be under direct and continuing supervision of a NYC-licensed Master Plumber. NYC does not allow education or out-of-state experience to substitute for any portion of the seven years.

Does NYC reciprocate with other states for Master Plumbers?

No. NYC DOB does not recognize any out-of-state Master Plumber credential. The seven-year NYC-supervised experience requirement effectively prevents out-of-state plumbers from applying without first working under a NYC Master Plumber for the full term.

What insurance does a NYC Master Plumber need?

$1,000,000 commercial general liability per occurrence, workers compensation and disability benefits insurance, and a $25,000 surety bond under 1 RCNY §11-02.

How often does the NYC Master Plumber license renew?

Every three years. Renewal requires continuing education and proof that the insurance and bond remain in force.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-15 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-13