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Lead the Way: Are You Ready for NYC’s August 2025 Local Law 31 Deadline for Lead Inspections?
- Staff Writer
- a few seconds ago
- 3 min read
Time flies, and so does the deadline for complying with New York City's Local Law 31 of 2020.
By August 9, 2025, property owners must ensure their buildings are inspected for lead-based paint hazards. This law mandates that all residential buildings constructed before 1960, and those built between 1960 and 1978 with known lead-based paint, undergo certified lead-based paint inspections. These inspections must be performed by EPA-certified Inspectors or Risk Assessors using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers to determine if lead-based paint is present .
What Property Owners Need to Do:
Understand the Scope
The law applies to all landlords and building owners of any one of the following:
Multiple Dwellings (residential buildings with 3 or more apartments) that:
Were built prior to 1960, regardless of whether children reside in the units.
Were built between 1960 and 1978, if the owner knows that lead-based paint is present.
Privately-owned residential units where a child under 6 resides, and the building meets the above construction year criteria (and must also comply with Local Law 1 of 2004 — which works hand-in-hand with Local Law 31).
Condominiums and Cooperatives, but only:
· When individual units are not owner-occupied (e.g., they are rented out).
· The building still meets the age and construction year criteria.
Common Areas within buildings meeting the above criteria - Local Law 111 of 2023 amended Local Law 31 to include XRF testing of common areas in residential buildings, such as stairwells and hallways.
Schedule XRF Inspections
Hire an independent/third-party EPA-certified Lead Inspector or Risk Assessor to conduct XRF testing in all tenant-occupied apartments and common areas of your building. The XRF Testing must also comply with Local Law 66 of 2019 which lowered the threshold (Action Level) for defining Lead-based Paint to 0.5 mg/cm².
Keep Records
Maintain documentation of all inspections and any necessary remediation to demonstrate compliance.
Notify the Tenants
Provide written notice to tenants of the XRF inspection results, as well as any remediation work that will take place. Under Local Law 1 of 2004, you must also provide Annual Notices and maintain signed copies from tenants.
Remediate the Hazards
If the XRF inspection identifies Lead-based Paint greater than or equal to 0.5 mg/cm² - you must remediate the hazards in compliance with Local Law 1 of 2004 and HUD/EPA guidelines; and use EPA-certified firms and workers for any lead paint disturbance, repair, or remediation work.
Lead Training Programs:
Navigating and preparing for these lead regulations can be complex, but we're here to help. CNS offers comprehensive training programs for those seeking to become certified:
And our courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to conduct thorough inspections and ensure compliance with NYC laws.
Why Lead Based Paint Training with CNS?
Expert Instructors: Learn from industry professionals with years of real-life experience in lead inspection, risk assessment and abatement.
Hands-On Experience: Gain practical skills through real-world scenarios and case studies.
Certification Preparation: Our programs prepare you for your EPA certification exam to achieve full EPA certification.
Now is the golden opportunity to get certified. Book your training at CNSenviro.com and take the first step toward becoming a certified Lead Paint professional.
Not looking to train and just need the inspection?
Yes, we train the experts — but we also are the experts. If you're a landlord, co-op board, or property manager trying to make sense of your obligations under Local Law 31, contact our environmental consulting team who is ready to help. We make the complex stuff simple — and we’ll keep you on track with all local and federal requirements.
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