Protecting Your Family from Lead Paint in NYC: A Parent's Guide
Lead paint remains one of the most serious environmental health threats to children in New York City. Over 73% of NYC's housing stock was built before lead paint was banned in 1978. If you live in a pre-war apartment with young children, understanding the risks — and your rights — is critical.
Children under six are most vulnerable because their developing brains and bodies absorb lead more readily than adults. Even low levels of lead exposure can cause irreversible damage — learning disabilities, behavioral problems, reduced IQ, and developmental delays. There is no safe level of lead in a child's blood.
Lead paint often hides under layers of newer paint. Warning signs include: paint that chips in large, stiff flakes; chalky residue on surfaces; paint cracking in an alligator-skin pattern; and visible deterioration around windows, doors, and baseboards. If your building was built before 1978, assume lead paint is present until testing proves otherwise.
Under Local Law 1 and Local Law 31, your landlord is legally required to: maintain all painted surfaces in good condition, perform annual inspections in apartments with children under six, remediate any lead hazards within 24 hours of notification, and provide you with the EPA lead hazard pamphlet annually.
New York State law requires blood lead testing at ages 1 and 2, and risk assessment through age 6. Ask your pediatrician about testing, or contact the NYC DOHMH Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. If your child's blood lead level is 3.5 µg/dL or higher, further evaluation and environmental investigation are recommended.
Don't attempt to remove lead paint yourself — improper removal creates more danger than the paint itself. Contact your landlord in writing, file a complaint with 311 or HPD, and keep children away from deteriorated paint. You can also request a free inspection through HPD.
We work with both tenants and landlords to eliminate lead hazards safely. Our EPA-certified team performs XRF testing, dust wipe sampling, and full abatement — with clearance testing to confirm your home is safe. Contact us for a free consultation.
The CDC's reference value is 3.5 µg/dL. NYC requires action and case management at 5 µg/dL, and a full environmental investigation at 10 µg/dL. Any detectable lead in a child under 6 warrants an immediate apartment inspection.