What Is NYC DEP’s CATS System?
The NYC DEP Clean Air Tracking System is the city’s online portal for air-permit and registration activity. Property owners, representatives and licensed professionals can use CATS for applicable new filings, renewals and amendments. DEP also provides an Air Permit Information search that can be used to look up permit information associated with a property.
For boilers and water heaters, DEP separates the filing process according to equipment capacity.
That distinction matters because not every boiler follows the same CATS process.
Which Boilers Require a DEP Registration?
According to NYC DEP’s boiler filing requirements, equipment is separated into three main filing categories based on boiler heat input.
| Boiler Heat Input |
DEP Filing Path |
| 350,000 BTU/hr to less than 2.8 million BTU/hr |
Boiler Registration I |
| 2.8 million BTU/hr to less than 4.2 million BTU/hr |
Boiler Registration II |
| 4.2 million BTU/hr and above |
Boiler Work Permit / Certificate of Operation |
For Boiler Registration I, the owner, owner’s representative or a licensed professional may submit the application. DEP requires information including the boiler make and model, maximum heat input, gross output and fuel type. The registration is issued for three years from the date of approval.
There is also an important exception involving smaller equipment. Boilers owned by the same person in the same building that are individually below 350,000 BTU/hr but have a combined heat input of 350,000 BTU/hr or greater must be included in a single registration.
That is one reason building owners should confirm their actual equipment information rather than assuming a boiler falls outside DEP registration requirements based on its individual size alone.
How Does a Boiler Registration I Renewal Work in CATS?
For a Boiler Registration I renewal, DEP directs users to log into CATS, select Boiler Registrations I and choose Registration – Renewal as the request type.
The general renewal process includes:
- Selecting the Registration – Renewal request in CATS.
- Entering the existing Application ID/Installation ID.
- Reviewing the boiler and property information associated with the filing.
- Updating applicable information, such as ownership, address, contact information or premise name.
- Completing the certification, submitting the request and processing the applicable payment.
DEP states that the applicant and owner receive an automated email after successful submission. Its Registration I instructions also state that the renewal should be submitted within 180 days of the expiration date.
Because the renewal is connected to an existing DEP record, this is also a good opportunity to make sure the information associated with the property and equipment is accurate.
If your boiler is already approaching its renewal period, you may also want to review some of the common mistakes that can delay a NYC triennial boiler registration.
What Information Should You Have Before Starting a Renewal?
It is helpful to have the existing DEP boiler information available before beginning the CATS renewal process.
For Registration I, relevant boiler information includes:
- Boiler make and model
- Maximum heat input
- Gross output
- Fuel type
The CATS renewal process also uses the existing Application ID/Installation ID to locate the current registration record.
If ownership or property information has changed since the previous filing, that information may also need to be updated as part of the renewal process.
Does Every DEP Boiler Renewal Follow the Same Process?
No. One of the most important things for a NYC property owner or property manager to understand is that Boiler Registration I and Boiler Registration II are different filing categories.
Registration I applies to boilers from 350,000 BTU/hr to less than 2.8 million BTU/hr. Registration II applies to boilers from 2.8 million BTU/hr to less than 4.2 million BTU/hr.
The Registration II process is more involved. DEP requires additional documentation and inspection-related steps, including performance-test information and combustion-test documentation in applicable Registration II filings.
By comparison, DEP’s current Registration I renewal instructions do not list a Performance Test Worksheet or combustion-analyzer printout as standard attachments to the Registration I renewal request.
That distinction is important. A building owner should not assume that every boiler registration or CATS renewal requires exactly the same documentation.
Boilers at or above 4.2 million BTU/hr follow a separate Boiler Work Permit and Certificate of Operation process rather than Boiler Registration I or II.
How Often Does a DEP Boiler Registration Need to Be Renewed?
A Boiler Registration I is issued for three years from the date of approval. DEP also states that a final Boiler Registration II is issued for three years from the date of approval of the initial Registration II.
This means the renewal date is tied to the equipment’s DEP approval rather than one universal citywide renewal date.
If you manage multiple NYC properties, boilers in different buildings can therefore have different registration expiration dates. Energo’s NYC triennial boiler registration services can help property owners and managers review their boiler information and navigate applicable DEP renewal filings.
Is DEP Boiler Registration the Same as a DOB Boiler Inspection?
No. They are separate compliance processes.
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection administers the CATS boiler registration process discussed in this article. The NYC Department of Buildings separately administers boiler safety and inspection requirements.
Completing an applicable DOB boiler inspection does not, by itself, renew a DEP boiler registration. Likewise, completing a DEP registration renewal does not replace an applicable DOB boiler inspection.
For more information about that separate requirement, see Energo’s guide to NYC Local Law 62 annual boiler inspections.
Does a CATS Notice Always Mean You Need a Boiler Registration?
No.
DEP uses CATS for more than boilers and water heaters. The system also supports filings involving generators, engines, industrial processes and other regulated equipment.
If a notice simply references “CATS,” the first step should be to determine which piece of equipment and which DEP filing the notice actually concerns.
For a boiler, checking the equipment capacity and existing DEP information can help determine whether the property is dealing with Boiler Registration I, Boiler Registration II or another filing path.
Can Energo Help With an NYC DEP Boiler Registration Renewal?
Yes. Energo provides NYC triennial boiler registration services and can help building owners and property managers navigate applicable DEP boiler filings and the CATS process.
If you received a DEP renewal notice or are unsure when an existing boiler registration expires, Energo can review the boiler information, help determine the applicable registration pathway and assist with the DEP filing process.
CATS is used for several different DEP filing types, however, so the fact that a notice mentions CATS does not necessarily mean it involves a service Energo performs. Confirming the equipment and filing involved is an important first step.
Received a DEP Notice About CATS or Your Boiler?
If you received a notice about an NYC DEP boiler registration, have a renewal approaching or are unsure what a CATS reference means for your building, Energo can help you determine the appropriate next step.
Our team works with NYC building owners and property managers to simplify applicable boiler registration and compliance requirements. You can also explore Energo’s broader NYC Local Law and compliance services.
Call Energo at 888-378-9898 or contact our team to discuss your NYC DEP boiler registration or renewal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does CATS stand for in NYC?
CATS stands for Clean Air Tracking System. It is NYC DEP’s online system for processing air-permit-related applications, renewals, amendments and other filing actions.
How often does an NYC DEP Boiler Registration I need to be renewed?
DEP states that a Boiler Registration I is issued for three years from the date of approval.
What size boiler requires DEP Registration I in NYC?
Boiler Registration I applies to boilers with a heat input of 350,000 BTU/hr to less than 2.8 million BTU/hr. DEP also has an aggregation rule for certain smaller boilers owned by the same person in the same building when their combined heat input reaches at least 350,000 BTU/hr.
Does every DEP boiler renewal require a combustion test?
No. DEP’s current Registration I renewal instructions do not list a Performance Test Worksheet or combustion-analyzer printout as standard renewal attachments. Different requirements apply to larger boilers and other DEP filing categories.
Is DEP boiler registration the same as the annual DOB boiler inspection?
No. DEP boiler registration and applicable DOB boiler inspections are separate NYC compliance processes administered by different city agencies.
Is CATS only used for boilers?
No. NYC DEP also uses CATS for filings involving other regulated equipment and air-permit processes, including generators and industrial sources.
NYC DEP Boiler Registration: What Is the CATS System and How Does Renewal Work?
If you received a notice from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection that mentions CATS, a boiler registration or an upcoming renewal, it is easy to wonder what exactly you are being asked to do.
The first thing to know is that CATS is the filing system, not the boiler requirement itself.
Does NYC Local Law 92/94 Apply to Roof Repairs or Full Roof Replacements?
Not every NYC roof repair or replacement automatically triggers Local Laws 92 and 94. For an existing building, the New York City Department of Buildings identifies replacement of the entire existing roof deck or roof assembly as a trigger for the sustainable roofing requirements.