For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall
have the meanings defined herein:
CONDUCTOR
Any inside roof drainpipe draining a roof or that part of
any outside roof drainpipe permanently connected with the sewer system.
FACTORY-CERTIFIED SERVICE TECHNICIAN
A person employed by a factory or plant which manufactures
equipment, devices, fixtures, components, assemblies, controls, and
other similar parts for the electrical, elevators, fuel devices or
plumbing trades, who has the working knowledge of the trade manufactured
for and of the equipment, etc., manufactured by such factory, and
has been trained and certified by such manufacturer as being knowledgeable
and capable of installing and servicing the equipment and components,
etc., in the field wherever it is installed.
[Added 7-20-2004, effective 8-2-2004]
MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL
For a commercial building, one of the following categories:
[Added 7-20-2004, effective 8-2-2004]
A.
The individual property owner (or owners), who is capable and
has a working knowledge of repairs and replacements in-kind in the
fields of work called for in properly maintaining his/her building
and site.
B.
Any employee(s) in the direct employ of the owner(s), not as
a contractor or subcontractor, but as an actual employee, whose job
it is to maintain the property and who is capable and has a working
knowledge of repairs and replacements in-kind in the fields of work
called for in properly maintaining the building and site that he/she
has been employed by the owner to maintain.
PLUMBING FIXTURES
Includes any receptacle or conduit carrying or discharging
waste or water, or both, connected directly or indirectly with the
plumbing system, including the hot- or cold-water lines or hot-water
tanks or heaters, and which is connected directly or indirectly with
the City water or sewer services. Repair parts added to or replaced
on any fixture shall not be considered as a fixture in the charging
of fees herein.
REINSPECTION
An additional inspection where it is found by the Division
of New Construction that the work has not been done in a satisfactory
manner or not in compliance with this article, the rules and regulations
for the registration of plumbers and installation of plumbing and
drainage in the City of Buffalo and other applicable ordinances of
the City of Buffalo.
[Added 7-20-2004, effective 8-2-2004]
A. All work, materials, parts, elements, components, finishes, equipment
and/or fixtures, assemblies and systems shall comply with the requirements
of the Plumbing Code of New York State irrespective of the requirement
for a plumbing permit or payment of plumbing permit fees.
B. All work shall comply with the provisions of the codes and ordinances
of this Charter irrespective of requirement for a plumbing permit
or payment of plumbing permit fees.
C. All work is subject to all other applicable approvals and reviews
and their attendant fees irrespective of requirement for a plumbing
permit or payment of plumbing permit fees.
D. The owner of a building, structure or lot is the primary responsible
party in building permit and building permit fee matters. The use
or employment of any agent, a licensed design professional, or a licensed
contractor does not obviate the owner's responsibilities.
[Amended 12-9-2003, effective 12-19-2003]
Plumbing work shall not be commenced until a permit for such
work has been issued by the Commissioner. A plumbing permit shall
only be issued to a City of Buffalo Licensed Master Plumber. A plumbing
permit is not transferable. A plumbing permit may be issued to an
individual resident owner, who has proven to the satisfaction of the
Commissioner of Permit and Inspection Services that they are personally
qualified to perform such plumbing work within their own home.
[Amended 12-9-2003, effective 12-19-2003; 7-20-2004, effective 8-2-2004]
A. Repairs to existing plumbing installations in existing one- and two-family
dwellings which are limited to:
(1) The repair in part or whole of any faucet, or supply tubes and fixture
stops attached to said faucet;
(2) The unblocking of stoppages of drains, which does not entail cutting
out any section of drain past the fixture trap;
(3) The repair of tubular drain assemblies and their connection to any
sink or bathtub;
(4) The repair of water closet stop valves, supply tubes, and flushing
mechanisms;
(5) The repair of any existing plumbing fixture, excluding hot water
tanks; and
(6) The repair of sections of piping for the water distribution system
to repair leaks, provided the piping is located aboveground or above
the floor in a basement or cellar, and the repair does not encompass
more than 20 lineal feet of piping.
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Resident homeowners and appropriately licensed plumbing contractors
may make such repairs to existing installations, consistent with the
definition of "repairs," without applying for and obtaining a plumbing
permit and paying plumbing permit fees. However, even when plumbing
permits are not required, all installations, materials, parts, elements,
components, fixtures, fittings, assemblies or systems used in such
Repairs must conform to current plumbing code requirements, as well
as current BCNYS Building and Energy Code requirements and City Charter,
codes and ordinances.
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No other plumbing repairs may be made in existing one- and two-family
dwellings without first obtaining a plumbing permit and paying plumbing
permit fees.
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B. Repairs to existing plumbing installations in existing commercial
buildings which are limited to:
(1) The repair in part or whole of any faucet or supply tubes and fixture
stops attached to said faucet;
(2) The unblocking of stoppages of drains, which does not entail cutting
out any section of drain past the fixture trap;
(3) The repair of tubular drain assemblies and their connection to any
sink or bathtub;
(4) The repair of water closet stop valves, supply tubes, and flushing
mechanisms; and
(5) The repair of urinal flush valve systems.
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Maintenance personnel and appropriately licensed plumbing contractors
may make such repairs to existing installations, consistent with the
definition of "repairs," without applying for and obtaining a plumbing
permit and paying plumbing permit fees. However, even when plumbing
permits are not required, installations, all materials, parts, elements,
components, fixtures, fittings, assemblies or systems used in such
repairs must conform to current plumbing code requirements, as well
as current BCNYS Building and Energy Code requirements and City Charter,
codes and ordinances.
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No other plumbing repairs may be made in existing commercial
buildings without first obtaining a plumbing permit and paying plumbing
permit fees.
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C. Replacements in-kind to existing plumbing installations at existing
one and two family dwellings which are limited to:
(1) The replacement in-kind in part or whole of any faucet, or supply
tubes and fixture stops attached to said faucet;
(2) The unblocking of stoppages of drains, which does not entail cutting
out any section of drain past the fixture trap;
(3) The replacement in-kind of tubular drain assemblies and their connection
to any sink or bathtub;
(4) The replacement in-kind of water closet stop valves, supply tubes,
and flushing mechanisms;
(5) The replacement in-kind of any existing plumbing fixture, excluding
hot water tanks; and
(6) The replacement in-kind of sections of piping for the water distribution
system to repair leaks provided the piping is located aboveground
or above the floor in a basement or cellar, and the repair does not
encompass more than 20 lineal feet of piping.
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Resident homeowners and appropriately licensed plumbing contractors
may make such replacements in-kind to existing installations, consistent
with the definition of "replacements in-kind," without applying for
and obtaining a plumbing permit and paying plumbing permit fees. However,
even when plumbing permits are not required, all installations, materials,
parts, elements, components, fixtures, fittings, assemblies or systems
used in such replacements in-kind must conform to current plumbing
code requirements, as well as current BCNYS Building and Energy Code
requirements and City Charter, codes and ordinances.
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No other replacements in-kind of plumbing parts, elements, components,
fixtures, fittings, assemblies or systems may be made in existing
one and two family dwellings without first obtaining a plumbing permit
and paying plumbing permit fees.
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D. Replacements in-kind to plumbing installations at existing commercial
buildings which are limited to:
(1) The replacement in-kind in part or whole of any faucet, or supply
tubes and fixture stops attached to said faucet;
(2) The unblocking of stoppages of drains, which does not entail cutting
out any section of drain past the fixture trap;
(3) The replacement in-kind of tubular drain assemblies and their connection
to any sink or bathtub;
(4) The replacement in-kind of water closet stop valves, supply tubes,
and flushing mechanisms; and
(5) The replacement in-kind of urinal flush valve systems.
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Maintenance personnel and appropriately licensed plumbing contractors
may make such replacements in-kind to existing installations, consistent
with the definition of "replacements in-kind," without applying for
and obtaining a plumbing permit and paying plumbing permit fees. However,
even when Plumbing Permits are not required, all installations, materials,
parts, devices, assemblies, systems and fixtures used in such Replacements
in-kind must conform to current plumbing code requirements, as well
as current BCNYS Building and Energy Code requirements and City Charter,
codes and ordinances.
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No other replacements in-kind of plumbing parts, elements, components,
fixtures, fittings, assemblies or systems may be made in existing
commercial buildings without first obtaining a plumbing permit and
paying plumbing permit fees.
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E. Service work to existing plumbing installations at existing one-
and two-family dwellings which is limited to:
(4) Pumps.
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Resident homeowners, factory-certified service technicians,
and appropriately licensed plumbing contractors may perform periodic
service work on such installations without applying for and obtaining
a plumbing permit and paying plumbing permit fees. However, even when
Plumbing Permits are not required, all installations, materials, parts,
devices, assemblies, systems and fixtures used in such service work
must conform to current plumbing code requirements, as well as current
BCNYS Building and Energy Code requirements and City Charter, codes
and ordinances.
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F. Service work to existing plumbing installations at existing commercial
buildings which is limited to:
(4) Pumps.
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Factory-certified service technicians, maintenance personnel,
and appropriately licensed plumbing contractors may perform periodic
service work on such installations without applying for and obtaining
a plumbing permit and paying plumbing permit fees. However, even when
plumbing permits are not required, all installations, materials, parts,
devices, assemblies, systems and fixtures used in such service work
must conform to current plumbing code requirements, as well as current
BCNYS Building and Energy Code requirements and City Charter, codes
and ordinances.
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A City licensed Master Plumber or Journeyman Plumber who is
supervised by a Master Plumber, both of whom are licensed by the City
of Buffalo, may, as an employee of a factory or plant, perform plumbing
work in such factory or plant.
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G. Installation of listed portable plumbing equipment and appliances
at existing one- and two-family dwellings. Homeowners and appropriately
licensed handymen and plumbing contractors may make such plumbing
replacements in-kind, consistent with the definition of "replacement
in-kind," or installations without applying for and obtaining a plumbing
permit and paying plumbing permit fees.
H. Installation of listed portable plumbing equipment and appliances
at existing commercial buildings. Maintenance personnel and appropriately
licensed handymen, plumbing contractors, and construction managers
may make such plumbing replacements in-kind, consistent with the definition
of "replacement in-kind," or installations without applying for and
obtaining an plumbing permit and paying plumbing permit fees.
I. All other plumbing work must be performed by a plumbing contractor,
licensed by the City of Buffalo.
J. All other plumbing work requires a plumbing permit and the payment
of a plumbing permit fee. See Flat Fee and Area-Calculated Fee Schedules.
Application for a permit for plumbing work shall be made on
forms prepared and provided by the Commissioner and shall be accompanied
by an adequate description of the proposed plumbing work.
If a permit is denied, written notice of the reasons for denial
shall be provided to the applicant who may submit such revised plans
and specifications as are necessary to obtain approval.
Every permit issued by the Commissioner under the provisions
of this article shall expire by limitation and become null and void
if the work authorized by such permit is not commenced within one
year from the date of issuance of such permit or if the work authorized
by such permit is suspended or abandoned at any time after the work
is commenced for a period of one year. Before such work can be recommenced,
a new permit shall be obtained.
Nothing in this article shall be construed to prevent the Commissioner
from issuing a permit for the installation of part of a plumbing system
before the entire plans and specifications of said plumbing system
have been submitted or approved, if adequate information and detailed
statements have been presented for the same and have been found to
comply with this article.
A permit to begin work for new construction or alteration shall
not be issued until the fees prescribed have been paid, nor shall
an amendment to a permit necessitating an additional fee because of
the additional work involved be approved until the additional fee
shall have been paid.
The Commissioner shall condemn any used plumbing material or
equipment which is so worn, damaged, defective or constructed as to
constitute a sanitary or safety hazard, and such condemned material
or equipment shall not be reused for plumbing purposes.
Written notice of any violation of this article shall be given
any violators thereof, and upon his failure to remove the violation
within a reasonable time but not more than seven days, prosecution
for violation of this article shall be commenced against him.
Permits shall be issued in duplicate, one copy to be given to the applicant and one copy to remain on record in the office of the Division of New Construction, upon the applicant's compliance with this article and upon the payment of the fees as provided in Chapter
175, Fees.
[Amended 7-20-2004, effective 8-2-2004]
Whenever the Commissioner has reasonable grounds to believe
that work on any building, structure, or lot is being performed in
violation of the provisions of the applicable building laws, ordinances
or regulations or not in conformity with the provisions of the accepted
permit application, plans or specifications and revisions thereof
or in an unsafe and dangerous manner or without a required permit,
the Commissioner shall notify the owner of the property or the owner's
agent to suspend all work, and any such persons shall forthwith stop
work and suspend all building activities until the stop-work order
has been rescinded. Such order and notice shall be in writing, shall
state the conditions under which the work may be resumed and may be
served either by delivering it personally or by posting it conspicuously
where the work is being performed and sending a copy of it by mail
to the address set forth in the permit application.