Syracuse, N.Y., Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 54 § 54-4
Presumptions and obligations
Operative Text
(a) For purposes of this chapter, all paint on the interior or exterior of any residential building on which the original construction was completed prior to January 1, 1978, shall be presumed to be lead-based. (b) For purposes of this chapter, all paint on the exterior of any nonresidential structure on which the original construction was completed prior to January 1, 1978, shall be presumed to be lead-based. (c) Any person seeking to rebut these presumptions shall establish through the means set forth in section 54-7 that the paint on the building or structure in question is not lead-based paint. (d) Residential buildings shall be maintained free of lead-based paint hazards.
Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 54 § 54-4 establishes that paint found on the interior or exterior of residential buildings—and on the exterior of nonresidential structures—built before January 1, 1978, is automatically treated as lead-based paint under the chapter's rules. This presumption applies unless a party successfully rebuts it through the testing or documentation procedures outlined in § 54-7. Separately, the provision imposes an affirmative requirement that residential buildings be kept free of lead-based paint hazards at all times.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 54 § 54-4, operators of pre-1978 residential properties are generally expected to treat all paint as lead-based unless they have obtained documentation rebutting that presumption through the process described in § 54-7. Compliant operators typically conduct or commission appropriate inspections, maintain records of any lead-paint assessments, and take ongoing steps to ensure the property remains free of lead-based paint hazards. Owners of pre-1978 nonresidential structures should similarly account for the exterior-paint presumption when planning maintenance or renovation work.
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 § 54-4 gives tenants in pre-1978 residential buildings a baseline protection: the law presumes all paint is lead-based and requires that the building be maintained free of lead-based paint hazards, without the tenant needing to prove the paint contains lead. If a tenant believes this obligation is not being met, general enforcement paths can include filing a complaint with the local code-enforcement authority or contacting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Syracuse housing regulations. Tenants may also find it useful to review § 54-7 to understand what evidence a landlord would need to show in order to rebut the lead-paint presumption.
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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