Syracuse, N.Y., Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 54 § 54-13
Exemptions
Operative Text
(a) This article shall not apply to properties taken by a governmental entity in a foreclosure proceeding which are vacant and secured and: (1) Scheduled for demolition; or (2) Scheduled for sale within twelve (12) months. (b) The requirements of section 54-5 through section 54-8 which are applicable to residential buildings shall not include single-family owner-occupied dwellings. (c) A building complex with six (6) or more units, any housing development or complex designated for seniors, and all studio apartments shall be exempt from the requirements for dust sampling established in section 54-6 . A "building complex" for the purposes of this section includes any proximately related grouping or combination of units or buildings that is structured under a single ownership or management contract, regardless of whether such buildings are contiguous. This exemption does not exempt a property from a dust sampling required by any other local, state, or federal law or regulation.
Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 54 § 54-13 carves out several categories of properties from the lead-safety and property-maintenance requirements found elsewhere in Article 54. Government-foreclosed properties that are vacant, secured, and slated for demolition or sale within a year are fully exempt from the article. Single-family homes occupied by their owners are excluded from the residential building requirements of sections 54-5 through 54-8, and larger building complexes of six or more units, senior housing developments, and all studio apartments are specifically relieved from the dust-sampling mandate in section 54-6—though other local, state, or federal dust-sampling obligations still apply.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators covered by Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 54 § 54-13 should identify whether their properties fall into one of the listed exempt categories before assuming Article 54's full requirements apply. Owners of single-family homes they occupy themselves are not subject to sections 54-5 through 54-8, while managers of complexes with six or more units, senior housing developments, or studio apartments are relieved from the section 54-6 dust-sampling requirements specifically. Compliant operators remain attentive to the fact that this exemption does not override any separate dust-sampling obligations imposed by other local, state, or federal regulations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in properties that a landlord claims are exempt under Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 54 § 54-13 should understand that the exemption is narrowly defined—for example, studio apartments and large complexes are only relieved from the specific dust-sampling requirement in section 54-6, not from all lead-safety protections. If a tenant believes an exemption is being misapplied to avoid broader Article 54 obligations, raising the issue with the City of Syracuse's code enforcement office is one general path available. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Syracuse housing code can help residents understand which protections remain in force for their building type.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 1, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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