Operative Text
A. No person shall perform regular maintenance, painting, renovation, or repair in housing constructed prior to January 1, 1978 or on any structures, equipment, exterior property, premises, dwellings, dwelling units, or parts thereof in such a manner as to create or exacerbate a lead hazard. (1) Upon Notice by the Commissioner, any and all such work shall immediately cease and desist. Work shall not continue until such time as the imminent health and safety risk is addressed and approval to resume work is granted by the Commissioner.
Buffalo, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 261 § 261-5 prohibits anyone from performing maintenance, painting, renovation, or repair work on pre-1978 housing or related structures in a way that creates or worsens a lead hazard. If the Commissioner issues a notice under this provision, all such work must stop immediately and cannot resume until the health and safety risk has been resolved and the Commissioner grants approval to continue. The rule applies broadly to any person doing such work, regardless of their role or relationship to the property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Buffalo, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 261 § 261-5, property owners and managers who oversee work on pre-1978 housing are generally expected to ensure that all maintenance, painting, renovation, and repair activities are conducted in ways that do not create or worsen lead hazards. Compliant operators typically use lead-safe work practices, vet contractors for relevant certifications, and maintain documentation of work methods. If a stop work order is issued by the Commissioner under this section, operators are expected to halt all covered work immediately and engage with the Commissioner's office to address the identified hazard before seeking approval to resume.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Buffalo, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 261 § 261-5 gives tenants a basis to raise concerns if renovation, repair, or maintenance work in a pre-1978 dwelling appears to be generating or worsening a lead hazard. Tenants who observe such conditions may consider reporting the situation to the Buffalo Commissioner's office, which has authority under this provision to issue a stop work order and require that the hazard be addressed before work continues. Tenant-rights organizations in the Buffalo area can help residents understand what documentation to gather and what local or state resources may be available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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