Syracuse, N.Y., Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 54 § 54-6
Inspections for violations
Operative Text
(a) All inspections made pursuant to chapter 27 of the Revised General Ordinances of the city of Syracuse (the Property Conservation Code), including, but not limited to, inspections performed as part of an application for a certificate of compliance pursuant to section 27-15 of the Property Conservation Code of the city of Syracuse, an application for a rental registry certificate pursuant to section 27-131 of the Property Conservation Code of the city of Syracuse, or based upon the filing of a complaint, shall include a visual assessment for deteriorated paint and bare soil violations. With respect to units in structures containing five or fewer units and located in the high-risk area, when the visual assessment identifies no interior deteriorated paint violation, the owner shall cause dust samples to be taken and certified test results to be obtained in accordance with the protocols established in section 54-8 to determine whether a dust-lead hazard exists. For the purpose of determining whether or not a deteriorated paint violation is interior or exterior as it relates to windows, in addition to that portion of the window component that faces the interior, all exterior-facing portions of the window component, with the exception of the exterior frame or trim, are considered to be interior. The owner shall be given sixty (60) days to cause the dust samples to be taken and to submit all certified test results to the department. If all certified results are not submitted within the specified time, a dust sample violation shall be cited. When a dust-lead hazard is identified and not cleared, a dust-lead hazard violation shall be cited. A certification of clearance as described in section 54-8 shall be required in order to clear a dust-lead hazard violation. Any amendments to the high-risk area must be identified by the mayor or the mayor's designee, and approved by the common council after a public hearing and any applicable environmental review process, shall be based on relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the use of the neighborhood revitalization strategy area and the county health department inspections data in conjunction with its elevated blood-lead level inspections. Where the filing of a complaint leads to an inspection, the inspection shall include the unit which is the focus of the complaint and all common areas.
Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 54 § 54-6 requires that all property inspections conducted under the city's Property Conservation Code include a visual check for deteriorated paint and bare soil that may indicate lead hazards. In smaller buildings of five or fewer units located in designated high-risk areas, if no interior deteriorated paint is found visually, the property owner must arrange for dust sampling and submit certified test results within 60 days or face a cited violation. Windows are treated largely as interior surfaces for the purpose of this assessment, and any identified dust-lead hazard must be formally cleared through a certification of clearance process before the violation is resolved.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 54 § 54-6, compliant operators of one-to-five-unit buildings in high-risk areas typically arrange for certified dust sampling promptly after a visual inspection finds no interior deteriorated paint, ensuring all test results are submitted to the department within the 60-day window. Operators generally maintain records of certified test results and clearance certifications so they can demonstrate compliance during certificate of compliance or rental registry certificate applications. Staying current on any mayor- or common council-approved changes to the high-risk area boundary helps operators know when these dust-sampling requirements apply to their properties.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 54 § 54-6 gives tenants a basis to expect that any inspection of their unit — including one triggered by a complaint they file — will cover a lead-paint visual assessment and, where applicable, dust sampling in smaller buildings within high-risk areas. If an owner fails to submit certified dust-sample results within 60 days or a dust-lead hazard goes uncleared, the ordinance provides for cited violations that can prompt further city action. Tenants who believe these requirements are not being met may consider filing a complaint with the city to trigger an inspection, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
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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