Lead Rental Registry Requirements for Property Owners

The New York State Lead Rental Registry Law is in effect in 25 communities of concern as of November 3, 2025. Final regulations were published in the State Register on April 8, 2026.

The nation-leading law addresses lead paint hazards in rental homes before a child experiences the harmful effects of lead.

Peeling and chipping lead paint and dust remain the primary source of childhood lead poisoning. The Lead Rental Registry Program is launching in 25 communities of concern with the highest number of childhood lead poisonings and older rental properties. It requires property owners to address lead hazards in pre-1980 residential rental housing with two or more units.

Property owners can use this time to:


Lead Safe NY

Access Lead Safe NY if your county is using New York State's Lead Rental Registry data system.

Tenants

Learn more about information being provided to tenants about the Lead Rental Registry.

Forms

Need Help?

Contact your local health department or Rental.Registry@health.ny.gov.

Property Owner Requirements

You are subject to the following New York State Lead Rental Registry requirements if you own residential rental properties built before 1980 with two or more units in Albany, Amsterdam, Auburn, Binghamton, Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Elmira, Gloversville, Jamestown, Kingston, Middletown, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Newburgh, Niagara Falls, Poughkeepsie, Rochester, Rome, Schenectady, Spring Valley, Syracuse, Troy, Utica, Watertown, and Yonkers.

  • Identify/verify your rental properties: This important first step will provide the local health department with information about your properties. Access Lead Safe NY. No action is required by property owners from Monroe County.   
  • Notify tenants: You will be asked to notify your tenants that their rental unit is covered under the New York State Lead Rental Registry, share the results of all lead inspections, and the status of required repairs. You can use this fact sheet to notify your tenants.
  • Please wait for instructions from your local health department to schedule a lead hazard inspection: After your rental property is entered into Lead Safe NY or your county data system, you will receive instructions from your local health department for scheduling a lead hazard inspection for each rental unit. Inspections must be conducted by a qualified inspector. Inspections may be offered by your local health department staff or a code enforcement officer. Please check with your local health department before hiring a private, EPA-certified, third-party lead risk assessor. Property owners certified by the EPA as a Lead Risk Assessor also may perform a lead hazard inspection.  
  • Repair lead hazards: If lead hazards are identified, they must be fixed using lead-safe work practices. Repairs must be conducted in accordance with all local, state, and federal regulations by an EPA-certified contractor. You may be asked to provide a written workplan to your local health department that describes all required repairs and completion dates. 
  • Obtain and submit a Lead Safety Certificate: After a rental unit is confirmed as free of lead hazards at the time of inspection, a Lead Safety Certificate will be issued with approval from your local health department. The local health department must have a satisfactory reinspection report and sample results to issue, approve, or renew a Lead Safety Certificate.
  • Conduct ongoing preventive maintenance: Visually check paint condition and safely repair as needed, and before renting to a new tenant. Promptly respond to tenant complaints of lead hazards. 
  • Comply with Lead Rental Registry requirements at least every three-years:  Ensure inspection, lead safe repairs, and tenant notification are conducted. Obtain a Lead Safety Certificate at least every three years.  
  • Fines and Penalties. Failure to identify errors in your property information in Lead Safe NY or your county's online have your property inspected, address identified lead hazards, and secure a timely Lead Safety Certificate can result in penalties and fines under Public Health Law. 

Older homes increase risks of childhood lead poisoning. About 74% of lead poisoned children in New York State live in these 25 communities of concern. Safely repairing lead hazards like peeling and chipping paint can significantly reduce the risk of lead poisoning.

You should receive information from your local health department about where to enter and verify your property information. Most counties will be using Lead Safe NY.

  • At minimum, it includes a visual check of the inside and outside of rental units and common areas. The inspection will identify chipping, peeling, or cracking paint, and any structural defects that could affect painted surfaces. It will also check outdoor areas and identify any lead hazards in bare soil.
  • If lead hazards are found, they must be repaired by an EPA-certified contractor in compliance with local, state, and federal requirements. Your local health department or code enforcement officer may provide technical assistance about what work must be performed and any EPA requirements. After the work is completed, another inspection will be performed to ensure that hazards have been addressed.
  • Dust samples will be collected to confirm the home is free of lead dust.
  • When a lead hazard inspection is conducted by anyone other than a local health department or code enforcement official, the lead hazard inspection and dust wipe samples must be performed by a person or company who will not perform the lead hazard remediation activities.

A lead hazard inspection must be performed at least every three years. If there is a tenant complaint or report of a child with an elevated blood lead level, the local health department will schedule an inspection sooner.

Lead-hazard remediation is the repairs required to address lead hazards. The inspector will find lead hazards and provide repair options. These may include:

  • Painting over areas that are peeling or chipping (paint stabilization)
  • Covering damaged areas with rigid, non-leaded materials (enclosure) or with specialized durable coatings (encapsulation)
  • Lead abatement (permanent removal of lead)

Individuals trained in Lead Renovation, Repair or Painting (RRP) or EPA-certified lead abatement contractors must perform lead remediation activities using lead safe work practices. Search the EPA website for a lead-based paint professional near you. Property owners who receive a work order (Notice & Demand or equivalent) from a local health department or local code enforcement agency will receive information about who is qualified to repair specific lead-hazards.

Yes. Funding is available to repair lead paint hazards at:

The cost of repairing lead hazards depends on the condition of the unit(s), the number and type of identified lead hazards, and who performs the remediation work.

Property owners can perform lead paint stabilization (repainting) if trained in RRP. Property owners can perform lead remediation (encapsulation, replacement, or removal) if certified as a lead abatement contractor. Lead abatement training certification may be available for workers, supervisors, and firms. Learn more about certifications. Talk to your local health department about trainings in your community.

Failure to schedule an inspection, fix identified lead hazards, comply with timelines, and secure a Lead Safety Certificate can result in enforcement actions. These may include monetary fines, placarding (inability to rent your units), liens, and court involvement.

If you or your immediate family live at the property, you must document that you occupy the unit as your primary residence in Lead Safe NY or your county's online data system. Only those units occupied as your primary residents or by immediate family can be exempt from the inspection and Lead Safety certification requirements of the Lead Rental Registry. Other rental units at the same property must still comply with the full requirements of the Lead Rental Registry Law. You must complete Form 5842 and provide supporting documentation at least once every three years to receive this exemption.

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