New York City Master Plumber License Renewal

At a glance

Who needs it

Anyone performing plumbing work in New York City, unless they work under the direct and continuing supervision of a licensed master plumber (NYC Administrative Code §28-408.1). The license and seal are issued by the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB)

Renews every

Three years. A license expires three years from the date it was issued and can be renewed every three years after that without an exam (§28-401.11). Go by the expiration date on your license card

When to renew

Submit your renewal 30 to 90 days before the expiration date on your license card. A renewal submitted within 30 days before the expiration date counts as late and pays a late fee (§28-401.12)

Renew

Through DOB NOW: Licensing, which needs an NYC.ID account (DOB's step-by-step help is at nyc.gov/dobnowtips). Upload the supporting documents as PDFs; DOB's Licensing Renewal User Guide walks through the application

Documents

The LIC62 Physical Examination Form, completed within 90 days before renewal, and your original 7-Hour Continuing Education Course Certificate of Completion

Continuing education

7 hours: the original 7-Hour Continuing Education Course Certificate of Completion is uploaded with every renewal

Renewal fee

$150 for the license plus $75 for the seal: $225 in total

Late fees

DOB's renewal page lists $275 in total ($225 plus a $50 late fee) for renewals between 1-30 days late, and $325 in total ($225 plus a $100 late fee) for greater than 31 days up until 1 year, paid with the renewal in DOB NOW. A renewal submitted within 30 days before the expiration date is already late: ask DOB which fee applies to yours

Not renewed?

A license that isn't renewed is cancelled when it expires, and its holder must surrender the seal to DOB at once (§28-401.12). Within one year of expiring you can apply for a late renewal without an exam, paying the late fee (§28-401.13)

More than a year late

DOB says there is currently no license reinstatement process: you reapply and file as an original applicant

Insurance

At renewal, file proof of a commercial general liability policy of $1,000,000 (or another amount DOB requires) and of compliance with the workers' compensation and disability benefits laws, and keep that insurance for the whole license term, telling DOB about any change in coverage, insurance renewal or policy status (§28-401.9). DOB's insurance guidelines ask for at least $1,000,000 each occurrence, the certificate holder box naming the NYC Department of Buildings, Attn: Licensing & Exams Unit, 280 Broadway, New York, NY 10007, and insurance updates filed in DOB NOW: BIS Options (+License Insurance Updates). With no employees, you may file a CE-200 affidavit of exemption from workers' compensation and disability insurance instead

Unpaid penalties

Penalties OATH ordered you to pay after finding you guilty stop a renewal, and DOB NOW lists your outstanding OATH violations when you start one. A pending hearing or an active Department of Finance payment plan doesn't stop it, nor do parking or camera tickets. A payment to the Department of Finance can take 1-2 business days to show in DOB NOW

After you renew

DOB says your license should be updated in its system within 24 hours of the renewal's approval, and that the license card comes by mail within 30 days of approval. If it hasn't come in 30 days, email licensingdob@buildings.nyc.gov

Contact

DOB Licensing & Exams Unit, 280 Broadway, 1st Floor, New York, NY 10007. (212) 393-2259 or licensingdob@buildings.nyc.gov

Master fire suppression piping contractors renew the same way on DOB's page: $150 for the license plus $75 for the seal, the LIC62 form, the 7-hour CE certificate and the same late fees.

A Plumber/Fire Suppression Piping Contractor certificate (the certificate of competence, held without a seal; DOB's certificate renewal page) is renewed online in DOB NOW too, with the 7-hour CE certificate: $150, or $200 in total 1 to 30 days late and $250 in total 31 days or more late. DOB doesn't accept walk-in or paper applications for it.

A journeyman plumber registration has no expiration and needs no renewal (§28-409.3).

How to renew

1. Find the expiration date on your license card. Your renewal window opens 90 days before it.
2. Get the LIC62 Physical Examination Form completed (within 90 days before you renew) and finish your 7-hour continuing education course.
3. Check that your $1,000,000 general liability, workers' compensation and disability insurance (or CE-200 exemption) is current with DOB, and pay any penalty OATH ordered after finding you guilty.
4. Log in to DOB NOW: Licensing with your NYC.ID, upload the LIC62 form and the original CE certificate as PDFs, and pay $225 at least 30 days before the license expires.
5. Watch for the new license card by mail within 30 days of approval.

Deadline checklist

• 90 days outYour renewal window opens: get the LIC62 physical exam form completed and finish your 7-hour CE course.
• 60 days outConfirm your insurance on file with DOB is current and clear any penalty OATH ordered you to pay.
• 30 days outLast day to renew in DOB NOW without a late fee: upload both documents and pay $225.
• Expiration dateAn unrenewed license is cancelled and the seal must go back to DOB. A late renewal is still possible within a year.
• One year lateAfter a year there's no reinstatement: you reapply as an original applicant.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

Frequently asked questions