Cheektowaga, NY Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- master plumber, journeyman or sewer contractor
- Master plumber experience
- 8,000 hours as journeyman
- Liability insurance minimum
- $500,000 per occurrence
- License expires
- every December 31
- Homeowner exception
- single-family/double dwelling, owner-installed
Summary
Cheektowaga adopts the Plumbing Code of New York State and requires anyone installing or altering plumbing to hold a Town-issued master plumber's, journeyman's or sewer contractor's license, plus a plumbing permit from the Inspector, before starting work; owners may install their own plumbing in a single-family or double dwelling.
The Building Code of New York State, Residential Code of New York State, Energy Code of New York State, Mechanical Code of New York State, Fire Code of New York State, Fuel Gas Code of New York State, Plumbing Code of New York State and Property Maintenance Code of New York State are recognized as the official codes for the purpose of prescribing regulations governing construction and maintenance within the limits of the Town of Cheektowaga. ... No person shall engage in or conduct a business of maintaining, installing or altering, repairing or contracting to install, alter or repair any plumbing in the Town of Cheektowaga until such person shall apply for and obtain a master plumber's license to engage in such business as herein provided.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4996449; v35 updated 2026-05-26; through 05-26-2026).
Full Breakdown
Cheektowaga Code § 70-2 recognizes the Plumbing Code of New York State, along with the Building, Residential, Energy, Mechanical, Fire and Fuel Gas Codes, as the Town's official construction and maintenance standards. ' Under § 70-11A(5), any new plumbing installation or alteration to existing plumbing needs a plumbing permit obtained by a plumber licensed by the Town. A five-member Board of Plumbing and Drainage Examiners, set up under §§ 70-17 and 70-18, examines and certifies master plumbers, journeymen and sewer contractors; a master plumber applicant needs 8,000 hours as a journeyman employee, and a journeyman applicant needs 4,000 hours as an apprentice, both under § 70-20.
Licensees must carry workers' compensation, disability and general liability coverage of at least $500,000 per occurrence under § 70-21B, and licenses expire every December 31 and are not transferable under §§ 70-21C and 70-22E. Section 70-23I carves out the one exception to the licensing rule: an owner may install plumbing personally in a single-family dwelling or a double dwelling unit, provided the work meets the same code requirements that would apply to a licensed plumber.
Violations & Fines
Plumbing without the required license or permit violates §§ 70-11 and 70-19 and is punishable under § 70-9 by a fine of up to $250 or 15 days in jail, with each day treated as a separate offense. The Board of Plumbing and Drainage Examiners may also suspend or revoke a plumber's license under § 70-22F whenever it finds doing so serves Town residents' interests, and a dissolved firm's license is automatically cancelled under § 70-22D.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do my own plumbing work in Cheektowaga?
What license does a Cheektowaga plumbing contractor need?
What code governs plumbing work in Cheektowaga?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cheektowaga
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