New interactive map helps tenants check for lead risks in their buildings

The Lead Dust Free NYC (LDFNYC) coalition and the Cooper Square Committee, along with BetaNYC, have launched a new digital lead map that helps tenants quickly check if their homes may be at risk for lead exposure. 

By entering an address, tenants can quickly determine if their building is likely to have lead paint based on its age — information that was previously difficult for most renters to access. Before this tool, tenants had to look up their building's construction year and cross-reference data about lead use to gauge their potential risk. 

Despite stricter regulations since the passage of Local Law 1 of 2004, lead exposure remains a serious public health problem. In 2023, 5,078 children under age six in New York City were still found to be lead-poisoned, according to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Many others, including adults, are exposed through chipping paint or unsafe construction work that releases clouds of lead dust. 

According to LDFNYC's 2024 report on construction dust in residential buildings, adults also face health effects from lead exposure, but have limited legal protections. Federal regulations are in place but are rarely enforced in New York City, and penalties for violations are often not collected. 

Find the map and other resources at this link.

Tenants who discover that their building likely has lead paint can contact the Cooper Square Committee or a local tenants' rights group for guidance at LDFNYC@coopersquare.org.