Licensed & Insured · NYC DEP & EPA Compliant · No Subcontracting · Commercial & Residential
EPA Certified. NYC Local Law 1 Compliant. Full Documentation.
Lead paint is present in the majority of New York City’s pre-1978 housing stock — and New York City’s Local Law 1 imposes specific, ongoing obligations on property owners with children under 6 living in those buildings. Renovation work in pre-1978 buildings that disturbs painted surfaces requires EPA-certified Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule compliance. FIRST Emergency Restoration provides EPA-certified lead paint abatement and RRP-compliant renovation preparation for residential and commercial properties across New York City and the Tri-State Area.
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NYC Local Law 1 (the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act) requires landlords to annually inspect and certify units in pre-1960 buildings (and pre-1978 buildings with children under 6) for lead paint hazards. Identified hazards must be remediated by an EPA-certified contractor.
The EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule requires that renovation work disturbing more than 6 square feet of painted surface in pre-1978 residential buildings be performed by EPA-certified renovators using lead-safe work practices. New York State has its own EPA-authorized RRP program.
FIRST Emergency Restoration is EPA-certified under the Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule and provides lead paint abatement work compliant with both NYC Local Law 1 and the EPA/New York State RRP Rule requirements.
Lead paint is one of the most prevalent environmental hazards in New York City’s residential housing stock. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned lead-based paint for residential use in 1978, but the vast majority of NYC’s housing — particularly the pre-war apartment buildings, brownstones, and row houses that define the city’s residential landscape — was constructed before that ban. In these buildings, lead paint may be present on any painted surface: walls, ceilings, trim, windows, doors, and in the soil around older buildings where exterior paint has deteriorated over time.
For NYC property owners, lead paint creates regulatory obligations that vary based on occupancy type and building age. Landlords in buildings constructed before 1960 (or before 1978 where a child under 6 resides) are required under NYC Local Law 1 to conduct annual visual inspections and address identified lead paint hazards. For renovation contractors, the EPA’s Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule requires that all renovation work disturbing painted surfaces in pre-1978 buildings be performed by EPA-certified firms using lead-safe work practices — with documentation provided to the property owner.
FIRST Emergency Restoration provides EPA-certified lead paint abatement for all regulatory compliance contexts — NYC Local Law 1 hazard remediation, pre-renovation RRP compliance, post-fire abatement of disturbed lead paint surfaces, and full lead paint removal projects for property owners preparing buildings for renovation. We manage all required documentation, clearance testing coordination, and regulatory filings as part of our standard scope.
FIRST Emergency Restoration provides full lead paint abatement services — from pre-abatement inspection coordination through clearance testing and regulatory documentation.
We coordinate with licensed lead paint inspectors and risk assessors for pre-abatement surveys. Inspection identifies lead-containing materials, risk assessment evaluates the condition and exposure hazard level, and both inform the abatement scope and method selection.
Remediation of identified lead paint hazards in compliance with NYC Local Law 1 requirements — covering friction surfaces (windows, doors), impact surfaces, and deteriorated paint. Remediation may use encapsulation, enclosure, or full removal depending on the surface and condition.
Lead-safe work practices for renovation contractors and property owners undertaking renovation work in pre-1978 buildings. We prepare surfaces and areas in compliance with EPA RRP requirements and provide the documentation required to the property owner.
Complete removal of lead-containing paint from surfaces designated for abatement — chemical stripping, HEPA vacuuming, and waste management in compliance with all applicable regulations. Required for surfaces where encapsulation is not appropriate due to condition or intended use.
For intact, well-adhered lead paint on surfaces not subject to friction or impact, encapsulation with approved encapsulant products or physical enclosure with new surface materials may be the appropriate abatement method. We assess and recommend the correct method for each surface.
Independent clearance testing by a licensed lead paint clearance technician after abatement is complete — dust wipe sampling and analysis to verify that dust lead levels meet regulatory clearance standards before the area is reoccupied. Clearance documentation provided to property owner and filed as required.
New York City has some of the most stringent lead paint regulations in the country — driven by the documented health impacts of childhood lead poisoning and the city’s vast inventory of pre-war housing where lead paint is ubiquitous. NYC Local Law 1 requires landlords of multiple dwellings built before 1960 — or before 1978 where a child under 6 lives — to conduct annual visual inspections and provide written notice to tenants. When lead paint hazards are found, the landlord must remediate them using a NYC-certified contractor within a specific timeframe. Failure to comply creates significant legal liability: lead poisoning cases against NYC landlords have resulted in multi-million dollar judgments.
The EPA’s Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule, authorized by New York State, creates a separate compliance obligation for contractors. Any renovation firm working in pre-1978 residential properties that will disturb more than 6 square feet of painted surface per room (or more than 20 square feet on exterior surfaces) must be EPA-certified and must use lead-safe work practices. Contractors who perform renovation work in violation of the RRP Rule face fines of up to $37,500 per violation per day. Property owners who hire non-certified contractors for this work also face regulatory exposure.
Post-fire and post-water damage environments in NYC’s older buildings create urgent lead paint abatement needs that intersect with emergency restoration work. When a fire damages painted surfaces in a pre-1978 NYC building, the restoration team cannot simply sand, prime, and repaint without addressing the lead paint status of those surfaces. FIRST Emergency Restoration’s combined abatement and restoration capability means the abatement that emergency restoration triggers can be performed by the same team, with the same accountability and documentation standards, without creating a coordination gap that delays the restoration project.
Our lead paint abatement process follows all applicable NYC, EPA, and New York State requirements — with documentation produced at every step for your regulatory compliance records.
We review your specific situation — Local Law 1 compliance, pre-renovation preparation, post-damage abatement, or full removal project — and identify the specific regulatory requirements, documentation obligations, and abatement methods that apply.
We coordinate with licensed lead paint inspectors or risk assessors for pre-abatement surveys. Results determine which surfaces are lead-containing, their condition and hazard level, and the abatement methods appropriate to each surface type.
Based on inspection results, we develop a written abatement plan specifying the method for each identified surface — removal, encapsulation, or enclosure — and the work practices, worker protection, and containment to be employed.
Work area containment established before any surface disturbance — plastic sheeting, negative air pressure where required, wet methods for dust suppression, and full personal protective equipment for all workers. Regulatory signage posted as required.
Abatement of all identified surfaces using the specified method. Chemical stripping and HEPA vacuuming for removal; application of approved encapsulant for encapsulation; installation of new surface material for enclosure. All work follows EPA and NYC-mandated lead-safe work practices.
Thorough cleanup of all work areas using wet methods and HEPA vacuuming. All lead paint chips, dust, and abatement debris packaged and disposed of in compliance with applicable regulations. Cleanup documentation maintained.
Independent clearance testing by a licensed clearance technician — dust wipe sampling from floors, window sills, and window troughs in all work areas. Laboratory analysis confirms that dust lead levels meet regulatory clearance standards before the area is certified for reoccupation.
Complete documentation provided: inspection/risk assessment report, abatement plan, work records, waste disposal documentation, and clearance test results. Formatted for NYC Local Law 1 compliance records, EPA RRP documentation requirements, and your property files.
FIRST Emergency Restoration provides lead paint abatement services to a range of clients across New York City and the Tri-State Area:
NYC Landlords & Property Owners
Annual Local Law 1 compliance — inspection coordination, hazard remediation, and documentation for pre-1960 multiple dwellings and pre-1978 buildings housing children under 6.
Renovation Contractors
EPA RRP Rule-compliant lead paint preparation for renovation projects in pre-1978 buildings — lead-safe work setup, surface abatement, and documentation that the renovation contractor is required to provide to property owners.
Real Estate Transactions
Pre-sale or pre-purchase lead paint abatement and clearance testing for NYC properties — documentation for disclosure obligations and buyer due diligence.
Emergency Restoration Contexts
Post-fire and post-water damage lead paint abatement for restoration projects in older NYC buildings where damaged surfaces require abatement before restoration work can proceed.
Lead paint abatement in New York requires EPA certification, compliance with NYC Local Law 1 requirements, and rigorous documentation. Here is what FIRST Emergency Restoration brings to every lead paint engagement.
FIRST Emergency Restoration provides licensed lead paint abatement services across New York City and the greater Tri-State Area:
Manhattan | Brooklyn | Queens |
The Bronx | Staten Island | Long Island |
Nassau County | Suffolk County | Westchester County |
Hudson Valley | Bergen County, NJ | Fairfield County, CT |
We also serve all communities throughout New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
Answers to the questions NYC property owners, landlords, and contractors ask most about lead paint abatement.
A: Lead paint abatement is required in NYC in several situations. Under Local Law 1, landlords of multiple dwellings built before 1960 (or before 1978 where a child under 6 lives) must remediate identified lead paint hazards. Under the EPA RRP Rule (authorized by New York State), renovation work in pre-1978 residential buildings that disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface per room must be performed by EPA-certified firms using lead-safe work practices. Post-fire and post-damage restoration that disturbs painted surfaces in pre-1978 buildings also creates an abatement obligation.
A: Full removal involves physically removing all lead-containing paint from a surface — stripping, scraping, or mechanical abrasion followed by HEPA cleanup. Encapsulation involves applying a specially formulated encapsulant coating over intact lead paint, creating a barrier that prevents exposure. Encapsulation is appropriate only for surfaces where the lead paint is in good condition, well-adhered, and not subject to significant friction or impact. Friction surfaces (window channels, door jambs) typically require full removal because encapsulant wears off with use. A risk assessor evaluates each surface and recommends the appropriate method.
A: As a renovation contractor working in pre-1978 NYC residential buildings, you are required under the EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (authorized by New York State) to be an EPA-certified firm and use lead-safe work practices for any renovation disturbing more than 6 square feet of painted surface per room. You must provide specific documentation to the property owner before and after the work. Violations of the RRP Rule carry penalties of up to $37,500 per day. FIRST Emergency Restoration can provide the RRP-compliant lead preparation work your project requires — contact us to discuss your specific project.
A: If you own a multiple dwelling in NYC that was built before 1960 — or built before 1978 where a child under 6 lives — you have annual inspection and certification obligations under Local Law 1. You are required to conduct annual visual inspections of dwelling units and common areas, provide written notice to tenants, and remediate identified lead paint hazards. Failure to comply can result in violations, fines, and significant civil liability in the event a child in your building tests positive for elevated blood lead levels. FIRST Emergency Restoration helps NYC landlords meet their Local Law 1 obligations — hazard identification, remediation, and documentation.
A: In many cases, yes. When fire or water damage in a pre-1978 NYC building has disturbed painted surfaces — through heat damage, water-damaged peeling paint, or physical impact — those surfaces may need to be assessed and abated before restoration work can proceed. Sanding, refinishing, or patching over lead-painted surfaces without appropriate lead-safe work practices creates an EPA RRP Rule compliance violation for the restoration contractor. FIRST Emergency Restoration’s combined abatement and restoration capability means we handle both in sequence — abatement first, then restoration — without the delay of bringing in a separate contractor.
A: We provide a complete documentation package: the pre-abatement inspection and risk assessment report, the written abatement plan, work records documenting the methods used and materials removed, waste disposal documentation, and the post-abatement clearance test results from the independent licensed technician. This package satisfies NYC Local Law 1 documentation requirements, EPA RRP Rule documentation obligations, and provides the property owner’s file records needed for any future property transaction, regulatory inspection, or insurance inquiry.
Environmental services rarely stand alone. FIRST Emergency Restoration provides the complete scope of restoration and environmental work:
Our flagship service — fire events often reveal asbestos and lead paint requiring immediate abatement before restoration can proceed.
Licensed asbestos removal for NYC pre-war buildings — required before any renovation or restoration work disturbs suspect materials
Licensed interior demolition coordinated with all required abatement work — one team, complete scope.
Identification, containment, and compliant disposal of all regulated hazardous materials.
IICRC Certified • BBB Certified • Licensed & Insured • NYC DEP & EPA Compliant • No Subcontracting
EPA certified, NYC Local Law 1 compliant, full documentation package. FIRST Emergency Restoration provides lead paint abatement for landlords, contractors, and property owners across NYC and the Tri-State Area.
