How do I test my NYC apartment for lead?

When do NYC lead-paint rules apply?

New York City Local Law 1 covers multiple dwellings with three or more residential units built before 1960. It also covers those buildings built from 1960 through 1978 when the owner knows lead-based paint is present. For covered rental units, the rules include an annual notice asking whether a child younger than six lives in or regularly spends 10 or more hours per week in the home. When a child is found to reside in a unit, the owner must inspect the unit and common areas annually for lead-paint hazards. Required repair work must use certified workers and follow the applicable lead-paint rules. See the city’s HPD lead-paint guidance for building and tenant details.

The city also lists certain tenant-occupied private homes with one or two units built before 1960, and some non-owner-occupied co-op or condo units. Coverage depends on the building type, its construction date, the owner’s knowledge of lead paint, and the child-related rules. If you are unsure which category applies, ask HPD or a housing attorney rather than assuming every older property follows the same inspection requirement. The annual inspection requirement is not replaced by an independent environmental testing visit.

What do dust, paint, and water samples tell me?

A dust wipe collects settled dust from a defined floor or window-sill area. The laboratory result reports lead by surface area, so it can be compared with a dust reference for that location. A paint screening uses an XRF instrument to check the painted surface itself; it does not measure dust that may have settled nearby. A water sample is collected at a tap and analyzed for lead in that water. Paint, dust, and water results describe different materials and locations rather than one overall score.

NYC’s current lead-dust reference/action levels for clearance and hazard-risk-assessment dust wipes are 5 micrograms per square foot (µg/ft²) on floors and 40 µg/ft² on window sills. The city adopted those levels effective June 1, 2021. They are reference levels for interpreting dust results, not a substitute for requirements that apply to a specific building or repair. The NYC Health Department’s lead-dust standards sheet describes the locations and measurements.

Is a do-it-yourself kit enough?

A home kit can be a starting point, but read its instructions closely: kits differ in what they collect, where the sample goes, and whether laboratory analysis is included. A mail-in water kit addresses the water sample only. It does not collect floor or sill dust, examine painted surfaces, or document room locations. If you need a record spanning several materials in one apartment, arrange the sampling methods and laboratory work to match that goal.

EPA explains the role of qualified professionals and ways to learn about potential lead sources in its guide to sources of lead. Before renovation that disturbs old paint, ask who is doing the work and which city requirements and work practices apply. Sampling for information and legally required inspection or post-work clearance are distinct services.

What does an in-home test include—and what does it not do?

Toxin Testers’ in-home visit can collect lead-dust and drinking-water samples, screen selected painted surfaces with XRF, and record sample locations. Laboratory samples are analyzed by an accredited laboratory, and results are presented with the relevant reference comparisons. The written record can help you understand what was measured at those selected locations and what question to ask next.

This visit is not an HPD or regulatory compliance inspection, does not determine whether a landlord has met a legal duty, and does not file a complaint or notice with the city or a landlord. Toxin Testers does not perform remediation. If you have a building-code concern, contact your landlord or use the city’s HPD lead-paint information to understand the city process. Sampling is a separate way to document measurements in your home.