Local Law 1 compliance for NYC owners.

What Local Law 1 actually requires.

Local Law 1 of 2004 — the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act — applies to every NYC multiple dwelling built before 1960 (and to 1960–1978 buildings where the owner has actual knowledge of lead paint). The owner must:

• Investigate annually for lead-based paint hazards in any dwelling unit where a child under six resides;
• Remediate identified hazards (peeling lead paint, deteriorated friction surfaces, chewable surfaces accessible to children) using lead-safe work practices;
• Provide an annual lead notice to every tenant family;
• Maintain records for at least 10 years; and
• Perform a lead-based paint inspection at unit turnover before re-renting.

Failure to investigate, remediate or document is treated as a Class C immediately hazardous violation — the most serious HPD violation tier, with 21-day correction deadlines and per-day civil penalties that accrue until closure.

What an Envirex Local Law 1 engagement covers.

Most LL1 owners engage us for a full annual program. Scope of work typically includes:

• Tenant notice management. Annual lead notice template, distribution log, and response tracking — the documentation HPD will ask for first.
• Annual visual investigation. Apartment-by-apartment visual inspection of all painted surfaces, with a focus on friction surfaces (window stools, troughs, sashes, doors), chewable surfaces, and any deteriorated paint.
• XRF testing when triggered. Where the visual investigation identifies a hazard or where tenant turnover triggers it, an EPA-certified inspector performs a calibrated XRF inspection with results in 24–48 hours.
• Friction-surface treatment scoping. Where lead paint is identified on friction surfaces, we scope the remediation — sometimes replacement, sometimes encapsulation, sometimes full abatement — depending on the surface, the budget and the child-occupancy context.
• Dust-wipe clearance. After remediation, an Envirex assessor (independent of the contractor) performs dust-wipe clearance sampling and lab analysis to current EPA standards.
• HPD documentation package. Annual investigation log, photographs, XRF data, remediation records and clearance results compiled into a single owner-of-record file — ready for HPD inspection or audit.

Class C lead violations — the 21-day clock.

If HPD inspects and finds an LL1-related lead hazard, you'll typically receive a Class C immediately hazardous violation. The clock is 21 days from issue to certify correction. In practice that's tight: the building must complete remediation, clearance testing, and the certification filing inside that window. Envirex routinely closes Class C lead violations in 14–21 days when the call comes in early. We handle the certification of correction filing end-to-end with HPD.

Common Local Law 1 scenarios.

• New child under six in the unit. Owner notification triggers an investigation requirement within the annual cycle.
• Tenant turnover in a pre-1960 unit. Turnover triggers an obligation to identify and remediate lead paint hazards before re-renting — see Turnover Lead Inspection.
• Open HPD violation. See HPD Lead Violation Closure for the rapid-response workflow.
• Renovation or repair triggering disturbed paint. EPA RRP rules apply alongside LL1; remediation should be performed by an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm.

Deliverable.

A single annual file per dwelling unit covering: tenant notice and response, visual investigation findings, any XRF readings, any remediation scope and clearance results, and a signed owner-of-record certification. Format is built to satisfy HPD audit and to be defensible if a future violation issue arises.