Do I need a permit to remove kitchen in one unit of two family?

To remove any fixture you need to file with DOB, via montly report or LAA. Gas line presents a problem. Any repairs or alterations of the gas line MUST be filed with DOB. Even gas test on gas line must be filed with DOB. Gas line cannot be left for future use. Gas line MUST be disconnected at point of connection to remaining gas line, then tee on the remaining gas line must be removed, Then remaining gas line  must be tested and signed off. This is you and your family live in the house. Be responsible and safe. Do the right thing. As per sanitary piping it must be disconnected from live lines within no more than 24″

ellenlourie

in Permits 12 years and 7 months ago

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57spring | 12 years and 7 months ago

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We purchased a two story home which is classified as a two family home with the Dept of Finance and was used as two apartments previously. We’d like to remove the upstairs kitchen as we are living in the whole house. The house is about 100 years old and has no certificate of occupancy with the Buildings Department or any plans on file there. Do I technically need a permit to remove the upstairs kitchen? My main concern is should we try to sell, refinance or some such a bank will complain the house is a two family being used as a one. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

eme1million | 12 years and 7 months ago

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PUll it out – but leave all the connections. At some point you might need to put it back. Some banks will want to see the 2nd kitchen if the building is being refinanced as a 2 family.

greenmountain | 12 years and 7 months ago

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In a similar job, my client asked me to maintain the kitchen plumbing and electric, preserving greater property value as a two family.  It turned out to be more work than they anticipated.  The kitchen gas pipe failed a pressure test, which if left in service would have been a fire hazard.  Fixture locations changed.  While at it we updated the electric capacity.  If it is like our job, you might not be able to just “leave the connections” for the next owner.  Licensed plumbers don’t want to leave old pipes connected to their new ones.  In the event of a leak, or DOB inspection, they don’t want any trouble.  The pipes we uncovered were indeed mostly old and rotten, and those 1920’s era wires were not adequate for both a new bathroom and kitchen.  Somebody (unlicensed trades) might save you money and leave some connections, but would they leave enough of them where a new kitchen would logically be built and to code?  Telling potential buyers you have “preserved the kitchen connections” (without a c of o) and selling the property as a usable two family, needing little more than kitchen cabinets, might not be the same thing.  This kind of buyer is on a tight budget.    Still, my client decided to do it right and is pleased with their decision and modest additional investment. You can find me in the ‘Stoner directory under Shower stalls – Green Mountain.

57spring | 12 years and 7 months ago

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Thanks very much

pigthree | 12 years and 7 months ago

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The house may not be a legal two family.  DOF classification is not relevant.  DOB electronic records may even list it as a two when it is not.  This is the case I came accross with my house.  Check the paper file with the dob and the electronic file.  If there is no C of O, and no proof of floor plan, it could easily be a legal one family as a legal two family.  Are there two gas and two electric meters?  Also, everyone seems to assume a two is more valuable than a one when it comes to resale.  In these days, not every home owner wants renters in their building.  The size also matters.  My house was origanally appraised as a two before it came to light that the building commisioner decided in was not a two family. It appraised higher as a one family.  With no floor plan on file, I removed a kitchen and reconfigured as a one family.  One electric meter and removed one gas meter.  Sold through the bank as a one.  Taxed as a two ( still cheaper that changing classification).  Listed on DOB as a two.  Talking with the DOB city engineer regarding this classification revealed it is irrelevant in the same way it was irrelevant when it was attempted to be sold as a two family (denied letter of no objection), Don’t base your decision on fear of what might happen.