Jamestown, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 216 § 216-12
Lead clearance
Operative Text
No person shall disturb or remove lead-based paint or in any other way generate excessive dust or debris during work on the interior or exterior of any existing building or structure except in accordance with the requirements of this section. Any home improvement contractor, property management firm, handyman or other person compensated for renovation work that involves window replacement or that disturbs more than six square feet of interior, and/or more than 20 square feet of exterior, paint or surface coating, in a residential building or child-occupied facility for which the original construction was completed prior to January 1, 1978, must possess an EPA RRP certification. This section shall not apply to activities that disturb or remove paint where the activities are being performed on buildings on which construction was completed on or after January 1, 1978.
Section 216-12 of Jamestown's Code of Ordinances establishes rules for work that disturbs or removes lead-based paint in older buildings. Any paid contractor, property manager, handyman, or similar worker who replaces windows or disturbs more than six square feet of interior paint—or more than 20 square feet of exterior paint—in a residential building or child-occupied facility built before January 1, 1978, must hold an EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) certification. The rule does not apply to buildings whose construction was completed on or after January 1, 1978.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 216-12, property owners and managers in Jamestown who hire or employ workers for renovation projects in pre-1978 residential buildings or child-occupied facilities should verify that any compensated contractor, handyman, or property management firm performing qualifying work holds a valid EPA RRP certification before work begins. Compliant operators typically keep documentation of contractor certifications on file and confirm that work scopes triggering the threshold—window replacement or disturbance of more than six square feet of interior or 20 square feet of exterior painted surfaces—are handled only by certified firms. Engaging uncertified workers for covered work would place the property in violation of this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 216-12 gives tenants in pre-1978 Jamestown residential buildings a basis to expect that any paid renovation work disturbing significant painted surfaces is performed only by EPA RRP-certified workers. If a tenant believes uncertified workers are performing covered work in their building, they may raise this as a potential code violation with local code enforcement authorities or consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with Jamestown's housing code. Tenants can also contact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which administers the RRP certification program underlying this section, for information about certified contractors and complaint processes.
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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