Home › Brooklyn
Home repairs in Brooklyn: guides and a licensed local pro
Brooklyn's housing runs from 19th-century brownstones and wood-frame houses to pre-war walk-ups and new condo towers. That variety shapes what breaks, who's responsible, and which rules apply. Start here, then use the guides below or ask us to match you with one licensed local business for the job.
Get matched with a licensed pro in Brooklyn Free for you. Pros pay Five Boro Fix a referral fee. Matching service, not a contractor.
Brooklyn's housing stock
Brownstones and row houses (Park Slope, Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, Fort Greene, Carroll Gardens) usually have one-pipe steam or hot-water heat, plaster walls, flat roofs with parapets, and plumbing that's been patched across many decades. Detached and semi-detached frame houses are common in southern Brooklyn (Midwood, Marine Park, Bay Ridge, Gravesend). Pre-war walk-ups and elevator buildings are everywhere, and Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Downtown Brooklyn have many newer condos and converted lofts.
Common problems we see questions about
- No heat, cold radiators and banging steam pipes once heat season starts.
- Roof and parapet leaks on flat brownstone roofs, often showing up on the top floor.
- Old galvanized or lead supply lines, cast-iron drains, and house traps that clog.
- Overloaded circuits in houses wired long before window AC and modern kitchens.
- Basement water and sewer backups during heavy rain, especially in low-lying areas.
NYC rules that matter in Brooklyn
- Historic districts: large parts of Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, Cobble Hill, Prospect Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant are landmarked. Visible exterior work (stoops, windows, façades, rooftop equipment) usually needs a Landmarks Preservation Commission permit.
- Licenses: plumbing and gas work need a DOB Licensed Master Plumber; electrical work needs a DOB Licensed Master Electrician; home improvement jobs over $200 need a DCWP Home Improvement Contractor license.
- Heat season: October 1 to May 31, landlords must keep apartments at 68°F by day (when it's below 55°F outside) and 62°F at night.
- Flood zones: coastal neighborhoods such as Coney Island, Red Hook, Gerritsen Beach and Canarsie are in flood zones, so check the city's flood map before finishing a basement.
Utilities
Electricity in Brooklyn comes from Con Edison. Gas comes from National Grid (gas emergencies: 718-643-4050, or 911). If you smell gas, leave first and call from outside.
Before you hire in Brooklyn
Tell the pro what kind of building you have (brownstone, frame house, walk-up or condo), which floor the problem is on, and whether you're inside a historic district. For steam heat, ask whether the technician regularly works on one-pipe steam, since near-boiler piping and vents cause as many problems as the boiler. On roof and façade work, ask how they'll protect neighbors' properties on attached row houses, and get the scope, materials and payment schedule in writing.
Brooklyn guides
Citywide guides that apply in Brooklyn
Questions
Who supplies gas in Brooklyn?
National Grid. Its gas emergency line is 718-643-4050; you can also call 911.
Do I need landmarks approval for repairs in Brooklyn?
Only if your building is in a historic district or individually landmarked, and generally only for visible exterior work. Check the LPC map for your address.
Is Five Boro Fix free for Brooklyn homeowners?
Yes. Participating pros pay us a referral fee. We're a matching service, not a contractor.
Sources
Rules and phone numbers can change. Check the official source before relying on them.
Other boroughs: Manhattan · Queens · The Bronx · Staten Island · All NYC home repair guides
Get matched with one licensed pro, free
Owners, co-op/condo owners and landlords: tell us the job and we'll introduce you to one licensed local business. We aim to make the introduction within 24 hours. We ask pros to share their license and insurance; verify the license yourself at the DCWP or DOB lookup. Free for you. Pros pay Five Boro Fix a referral fee. Matching service, not a contractor.