Operative Text
A. Required disclosures. Upon application for a new or renewal rental dwelling unit certificate, the owner shall state, under penalty of perjury: (1) Whether renovation, repair, and/or painting occurred in the unit during the previous three years from the date of application triggered the requirement of lead safe work practices or methods as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Chapter 261 of the City of Buffalo's Code, and the Erie County Sanitary Code, whichever is more protective of public health; (2) If the renovation, repair, and/or painting took place that meet such criteria, the owner shall provide additional information including: (a) The approximate dates of the renovation, repair, and/or painting; (b) The location in the unit or on the exterior of the unit of the renovation, repair, and/or painting; (c) The name and business address of the person, including the owner if self-performing, or entity that engaged in the renovations, repair, and/or painting; (d) A statement indicating that at the time of renovation, repair, and/or painting, the person or entity who engaged in the activity held a current Environmental Protection Agency Accredited Renovation, Repair and Painting Training Program certification or similar accreditation issued by the Erie County Department of Health or other accredited entity; (3) Whether the unit has any active or unresolved citations issued by the Erie County Department of Health of any violation of the Erie County Sanitary Code and details as to the status or resolution of the citation; (4) The existence of any active lead-based paint citations issued by the Erie County Department of Health, or by a state or federal entity with concurrent jurisdiction; (5) Whether the unit, to the best of the owner's knowledge, is currently occupied by children under the age of seven; (a) Visitation is considered regular where a child spends one night or eight daytime hours out of every 14 calendar days in a unit. (6) Whether the unit complies with the conditions set forth in § 264-22 . B. Required disclosures after application. If any of the conditions listed in § 264-25A arise after the owner has filed an application for a license issued pursuant to this chapter, the owner must disclose the condition to the Department within 30 calendar days of receiving actual or constructive notice of the condition. C. Failure to provide such information shall be grounds to deny or revoke a certificate of rental compliance.
Buffalo, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 264 § 264-25 requires rental property owners to submit a sworn affidavit—under penalty of perjury—when applying for a new or renewal rental dwelling unit certificate, disclosing details about lead-related renovation work, outstanding health code citations, the presence of young children, and whether the unit meets certain habitability conditions. If any of these conditions arise after the application is filed, the owner must notify the relevant city department within 30 calendar days of learning about the condition. Failure to provide the required information can result in denial or revocation of the rental compliance certificate.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 264-25, compliant rental operators in Buffalo typically gather and document all renovation, repair, and painting activity from the prior three years before submitting a certificate application, ensuring that contractor certification records and work location details are on hand. Operators also monitor for new Erie County Department of Health citations or changes in occupancy—such as a child under seven regularly staying in the unit—so that any post-application disclosures can be submitted to the Department within the 30-day window. Maintaining organized records of EPA-accredited contractor credentials and lead-related compliance history supports accurate sworn statements and helps avoid certificate denial or revocation under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 264-25 gives tenants an indirect but meaningful protection: landlords are legally required to disclose lead-related renovation history, outstanding health code violations, and other conditions when seeking a rental certificate, and those disclosures are made under penalty of perjury. If a tenant believes a landlord has withheld or misrepresented information required by this provision—such as unresolved Erie County Department of Health citations or the use of uncertified contractors—that concern can be raised with the City of Buffalo's licensing or housing department. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Buffalo's rental compliance process can help residents understand how § 264-25 disclosures relate to their unit's certificate status and what options 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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