CDC · EPA · NYC HPD · Last updated 25 June 2026
NYC Home Safety Report
A multi-hazard reference for New York City renters and homeowners — covering the five major indoor health hazards: pest infestations, mold, lead paint, carbon monoxide, and fire. Sourced from CDC, EPA, and NYC HPD.
Informational only — not a substitute for professional inspection or advice. In an emergency, call 911.
What are the main home health hazards in NYC?
NYC's older housing stock — over 70% of rental units were built before 1974 according to NYC HPD — creates a specific multi-hazard profile. Lead paint, moisture problems, pest pressure, and fire/CO risk often co-occur in the same buildings. The following hazards each have dedicated NYC HPD enforcement programmes.
Pest Infestations
Rodents, cockroaches, bed bugs — health impacts and landlord obligations under the NYC Housing Maintenance Code.
Learn more →Mold & Lead Paint
EPA mold guidance, NYC's local lead law (Local Law 1 of 2004), and HPD inspection and remediation requirements.
Learn more →Fire & Carbon Monoxide
Detector requirements, evacuation planning, and NYC Local Law 4 of 2011 on carbon monoxide alarms — sourced from CDC and FDNY.
Learn more →Key facts about NYC home hazards
Lead paint: NYC's Local Law 1 of 2004 (NYC Admin Code § 27-2056 et seq.) requires owners of pre-1960 multiple dwellings to inspect for and remediate lead paint hazards in apartments where a child under six resides. The EPA identifies lead paint as the primary source of lead poisoning in US children.
Mold: The EPA's mold remediation guidance links indoor mold exposure to upper respiratory symptoms, asthma exacerbation, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. NYC HPD classifies mold above 10 square feet as a C-class violation — the most serious category — requiring expedited remediation.
Carbon monoxide: The CDC reports that approximately 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning each year (excluding fires). NYC's Local Law 7 of 2004 requires CO alarms in all NYC dwellings. FDNY recommends interconnected detectors and annual replacement of batteries. VERIFY — confirm exact law number and current requirements with FDNY.
Pests & code: Under the NYC Housing Maintenance Code, landlords are required to maintain apartments free of pests. Violations can be filed via NYC 311. HPD housing violations data is publicly available on NYC Open Data (wvxf-dwi5). DATA TODO — pull current violation counts for pest categories.
Sources: CDC, EPA, NYC HPD, FDNY. Last updated 2026-06-25. Claims marked VERIFY require human review before relying on them.
About Home Safety Report
Home Safety Report covers multiple indoor hazards — not just pests. It is distinct from pest-only reference sites by its broader multi-hazard scope: pests, mold, lead, CO, and fire. All claims are sourced to named authorities (CDC, EPA, NYC HPD, FDNY). This site is informational only — it is not a professional inspection service and does not constitute legal or medical advice. In an emergency, always call 911.