Albany, NY Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- Before any plumbing work begins
- Issuing authority
- Commissioner of Buildings
- Exam fee
- $15 per application
- Unlicensed hire
- Unlawful under § 261-15
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor plus license forfeiture
Summary
Only a plumber licensed by Albany's Examining Board of Plumbers may perform plumbing work in the city. The Commissioner of Buildings issues the license after an exam, and the Board's own plumbing rules layer on top of the New York State Plumbing, Fuel Gas and Mechanical Codes.
No person shall, within the limits of the City of Albany, engage in, carry on or work at the business of plumbing as herein defined without first having passed an examination and obtained and paid for and having in full force and effect a license as herein provided.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4873446; v61 updated 2026-03-18; through 03-18-2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code Chapter 261 bars anyone from working at the business of plumbing in Albany without first passing an examination and holding a license from the Examining Board of Plumbers (§ 261-3). The Commissioner of Buildings issues that license, and while an application is pending, the Commissioner may grant a working permit on the Board's recommendation (§ 261-11). The Board's own code of rules for plumbing and drainage work is layered on top of, not a substitute for, the minimum requirements of the current New York State Plumbing, Fuel Gas and Mechanical Codes (§ 261-2B(2)). Hiring an unlicensed plumber to do the work is itself unlawful (§ 261-15).
Violations & Fines
Working, or hiring someone to work, at plumbing without a license is a misdemeanor; a convicted master plumber also forfeits any certificate of competency or registration held under Chapter 261 (§ 261-17).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to do plumbing work in Albany?
What plumbing code does Albany enforce?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Albany
New York rules heatmap·Compare Albany to another location·View the New York building safety overview
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