Omaha City Council members passed several changes to the plumbing code Tuesday that officials say will increase the flow of housing projects in the city.
The changes include rolling back restrictions on the use of PVC pipe instead of cast iron. Omaha currently heavily restricts the use of PVC to single-family homes, restaurants and multifamily homes under four stories. Neighboring communities don’t have such strict requirements.
The new codes will also allow PEX, a durable pipe material, as an alternate material to copper for water service lines.
Code changes also look to address a labor shortage of plumbers in the metro. While electricians operate at a one-to-six ratio for apprenticeships, current code requirements call for one plumber to one apprentice. The city is looking to implement a one-to-two ratio.
More than two dozen plumbers and contractors spoke to the City Council in late October about the suggested changes. About half were in support and half against the new initiatives.
Le Nguyen, superintendent of permits and inspection, presented the proposed changes at a council meeting last month. She said loosening the restrictions would make it cheaper to build both large-scale projects and residential dwellings.
“For a school project that has the same footprint, it was cheaper to build in Gretna than it is here in Omaha,” Nguyen said. “This is a significant cost saving without compromising safety.”
The changes will take effect in 2028.
