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New York mold laws: what Article 32 requires

New York licenses mold assessors, remediation contractors and abatement workers, and bars one company from both assessing and cleaning up the same property. Owners can do the work themselves, and the state does not require an owner to clean up mold. If you hire professionals, you are entitled to a copy of the assessment.

What this means if you're hiring

New York leaves the decision to the owner. The state does not require you to clean up mold when you find it, and you do not need a professional to do it yourself. The law applies once you hire one: the people you pay must hold the right license, and the job follows a set sequence of assessment, remediation and clearance.

The company that assesses the mold, and may come back to clear the job afterwards, cannot be the company that does the cleanup. You are entitled to a copy of the assessment, and the remediation contractor must give you a work plan that follows it. That gives you two documents to compare against the invoice. Both kinds of licensed contractor are in the state's open data, which we republish: remediation contractors and assessment contractors.

For renters, the Department of Labor points out that rental property owners must still provide clean and sanitary living conditions.

The rules, with the source language

Each statement below is checked against a verbatim quote from the linked statute or agency page, and dated. A statement we could not match to its source is left out rather than paraphrased. Open a topic for its rules.

Who needs a license

In New York it is unlawful to work or advertise as a mold assessor, remediation contractor or abatement worker without a valid mold license from the Commissioner for that type of work. “It is unlawful for any person to engage, advertise or hold themselves out as a mold assessor, remediation contractor, or abatement worker unless they have a valid mold license, issued by the Commissioner, for the type of work they will be performing.” (NYSDOL, Mold Program, checked 2026-09-23)
The Mold Program enforces Article 32 of the New York State Labor Law. “The Mold Program is responsible for enforcing Article 32 of the New York State Labor Law” (NYSDOL, Mold Program, checked 2026-09-23)

Small jobs and doing it yourself

Home and business owners working on their own properties are among the limited exceptions to the licensing requirement. “with limited exceptions such as home or business owners performing work on their own properties” (NYSDOL, Mold Program, checked 2026-09-23)
New York does not require a property owner to hire a mold professional to clean up mold. “If I want to clean up mold, do I need to hire a mold professional? No. Mold issues can often be fixed by the property owner.” (NYSDOL fact sheet P227, Mold Assessment and Remediation in New York State, checked 2026-09-23)
New York has no requirement that a property owner clean up mold when it is found. “Does New York require a property owner to clean up mold when it is found? No, there is no cleanup requirement for property owners.” (NYSDOL fact sheet P227, Mold Assessment and Remediation in New York State, checked 2026-09-23)

Keeping the inspector and the remover apart

The law bars licensed mold companies and their employees from doing both the assessment and the remediation on the same property. “The law protects consumers by barring licensed mold companies and their employees from doing both the assessment and remediation on the same property.” (NYSDOL fact sheet P227, Mold Assessment and Remediation in New York State, checked 2026-09-23)
One company may do the initial and post-cleanup clearance assessments, but a different company must do the cleanup. “One mold company and their employees may do the initial and post-cleanup clearance assessments, but a different company and their employees must do the actual cleanup work.” (NYSDOL fact sheet P227, Mold Assessment and Remediation in New York State, checked 2026-09-23)

Paperwork, clearance and penalties

Every mold cleanup project done by professionals must follow three steps: assessment, remediation and clearance. “Every mold cleanup project performed by professionals must follow these steps: assessment, remediation (clean up), clearance.” (NYSDOL fact sheet P227, Mold Assessment and Remediation in New York State, checked 2026-09-23)
If you hire a mold professional for an assessment, you must be given a copy of it. “If you hire a mold professional to do an assessment, you must be given a copy.” (NYSDOL fact sheet P227, Mold Assessment and Remediation in New York State, checked 2026-09-23)
The remediation contractor must give you a mold remediation work plan. “They must give you a mold remediation work plan.” (NYSDOL fact sheet P227, Mold Assessment and Remediation in New York State, checked 2026-09-23)
New York's minimum work standards include posted notice of the project and the contractor's licenses, and a post-remediation assessment. “Posted notice of the project and the contractor's licenses; and Completion of a post-remediation assessment.” (NYSDOL, Mold Program, checked 2026-09-23)

Renters and landlords

Rental property owners must still provide clean and sanitary living conditions to their tenants. “Note: Rental property owners must still provide clean and sanitary living conditions to their tenants.” (NYSDOL fact sheet P227, Mold Assessment and Remediation in New York State, checked 2026-09-23)
After a mold complaint is submitted, an inspector from the district serving your county investigates it. “Once submitted an inspector from the district serving your county will investigate the complaint as soon as possible.” (NYSDOL, Mold Program, checked 2026-09-23)

Testing and exposure limits

NYSDOL says that in most cases air sampling and mold testing are not necessary. “In most cases, air sampling and mold testing are not necessary.” (NYSDOL fact sheet P227, Mold Assessment and Remediation in New York State, checked 2026-09-23)
There are no national or New York standards for safe levels of mold. “There are no national or state standards for “safe” levels of mold.” (NYSDOL fact sheet P227, Mold Assessment and Remediation in New York State, checked 2026-09-23)
The law does not set what an assessment should cost. “The law does not say how much an assessment should cost.” (NYSDOL fact sheet P227, Mold Assessment and Remediation in New York State, checked 2026-09-23)

The state's license records, republished with their date: New York licensed mold remediation contractors; New York licensed mold assessment contractors.

Common questions

Do I need a license to remove mold in my own home in New York?

No. Home and business owners working on their own properties are among the limited exceptions to the licensing requirement, and the Department of Labor says mold issues can often be fixed by the property owner.

Can one company do the mold assessment and the remediation in New York?

No. The law bars licensed mold companies and their employees from doing both on the same property. One company may do the initial and clearance assessments, but a different company must do the cleanup.

Does New York require an owner to clean up mold?

No. The Department of Labor's fact sheet says there is no cleanup requirement for property owners. Rental property owners must still provide clean and sanitary living conditions to tenants.

Is mold testing required in New York?

No. The Department of Labor says that in most cases air sampling and mold testing are not necessary, and that there are no national or state standards for safe levels of mold.

This page summarises public law for general reference; it is not legal advice. Laws change, and the linked source is the authority. Checked 2026-09-23. Other states: mold laws by state.