New York Lead Paint Laws for Landlords: the 2026 Syracuse and Onondaga County Guide

New York lead paint rules for landlords changed in a big way. The state created a Lead Rental Registry, and covered owners in Syracuse must have their property inspected and obtain a Lead-Safe Certificate, with the first certifications due by October 1, 2026. If you own a rental here, the one action to take now is to confirm whether your property is covered and line up an inspection. We can connect you with a licensed contractor who handles these registry inspections, and income-eligible owners may be able to cover the cost through a lead paint grant. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

What the law is

New York Public Health Law Section 1377 created a statewide Lead Rental Registry with proactive inspections, for residential rental buildings with two or more units built before 1980 in designated communities of concern. The law took effect November 3, 2025, owners of covered properties had to register in the state Lead Safe NY system by January 3, 2026, the obligation to conduct inspections began May 3, 2026, and the first round of certifications is due October 1, 2026. As of mid-2026, registration and the inspection phase are underway, and the certificate deadline is the next milestone. See the New York State Lead Rental Registry and the statute at Public Health Law Section 1377.

Is Syracuse covered?

Yes. Syracuse is one of the 25 communities of concern designated by New York State because of childhood lead exposure rates and older rental housing. The registry applies to specific covered ZIP codes within the city, not every address, so part of your job is simply confirming whether your property falls inside the covered area.

Single-family rentals are not covered by the state registry. Separately, the City of Syracuse runs its own rental registry with its own rules, which is a different program from the state law. A single-family rental in the city may still carry city obligations even though the state registry does not apply. Confirm city requirements with the City of Syracuse code office.

What you have to do, as a checklist

• Confirm whether your property is covered (two or more units, built before 1980, in a covered ZIP code).
• Register the property with the local health department or its designee.
• Get a lead inspection by an EPA-certified contractor (or an owner with a valid EPA Risk Assessor certification).
• Fix any identified hazards using lead-safe work practices.
• Obtain the Lead-Safe Certificate and submit the inspection results for recording.
• Renew every three years (or sooner after a complaint or a child with an elevated blood lead level).

Registration steps and timing can vary by locality, so check the property owner requirements on NY DOH and with the Onondaga County Health Department for your specific address.

Deadlines and penalties

On penalties: missing the deadline can bring civil penalties under New York Public Health Law, and because compliance is tied to the certificate of occupancy, it can affect the ability to rent or renew occupancy until hazards are fixed. We do not publish a specific dollar amount, because the exact civil penalty figures are set by statute and the 2026 regulations. Confirm current amounts with New York State or the Onondaga County Health Department.

Federal rules that still apply

The state registry sits on top of long-standing federal rules:

• Lead disclosure (Section 1018). Before leasing most pre-1978 housing, you must disclose known lead-based paint and hazards, provide records, give tenants the EPA Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home pamphlet, and include a lead warning statement in the lease.
• RRP rule. Renovation, repair, or painting on a pre-1978 unit that disturbs paint above the EPA size thresholds must be done by an EPA-certified firm. See the EPA RRP Rule and our lead-safe renovation page.
• Reactive state trigger. When a young child has a confirmed elevated blood lead level, the health department can inspect and require correction of hazards, regardless of the registry.

How Onondaga Lead Services helps

We are a marketing service, not a contractor and not a law firm. We connect Syracuse-area landlords with licensed, EPA-certified contractors who handle registry inspections and lead-safe repairs. Using the service does not guarantee compliance; the obligation rests with you as the owner, and the contractor performs the work. Start on our rental property lead compliance page, and for public-health questions, contact the Onondaga County Health Department lead program.