New York Mold Remediation Licensing & Laws

Does New York require a state license to do mold work?

Yes. New York’s Department of Labor (NYSDOL) Mold Program enforces Article 32 of the New York State Labor Law, which sets up licensing requirements and minimum work standards for mold assessment and remediation. From NYSDOL directly: “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. Individuals who do so may be subject to a civil penalty” (NYSDOL Mold Program).

The licensing rule kicks in at 10 square feet. NYSDOL defines a Mold Project as “mold remediation, mold assessment, or mold abatement, of areas greater than ten (10) square feet undertaken for the purpose of mold remediation or abatement” (NYSDOL Mold FAQ). The definition specifically excludes routine cleaning and routine construction or maintenance work.

If the affected area is less than 10 square feet and you do not have sensitivity to mold, NYSDOL says cleanup may be done on your own, with non-ammonia soap, hot water, gloves, and goggles (NYSDOL FAQ). Above 10 sq ft, the law requires licensed professionals.

What are New York’s mold license types?

The NYSDOL Mold Program covers three principal categories of work, plus an individual Mold Supervisor license:

1. Mold Assessor. Inspects the property and produces the independent assessment that defines the remediation scope.
2. Mold Remediation Contractor. Performs the cleanup.
3. Mold Abatement Worker. Performs hands-on work under a licensed contractor.

Plus the Mold Supervisor license, which is required for individuals who want to operate as a Mold Remediation Contractor. Per NYSDOL: “Application for Mold Remediation Contractor will no longer include an individual license to work as a Mold Remediation Contractor Supervisor. Individuals wishing to apply for or renew their individual Mold Remediation Contractor License should use the Mold Supervisor License Application (Form SH127.2)” (NYSDOL Mold Program).

A few procedural notes from NYSDOL primary materials:

• Individual Licenses and Business Licenses are filed separately (NYSDOL Mold Program).
• The fees for the Mold Supervisor License and the Individual Mold Assessor License have been eliminated (NYSDOL Mold Program).
• Renewal applications cannot be submitted more than 90 days before the current license expires (NYSDOL Mold Program).
• Applications can be filed online through MPWR at mpwr-public.labor.ny.gov.

Can the same person assess AND remediate the same property in New York?

No. New York is the cleanest example of this rule in the country, and it is set in the law itself, not just an agency rule. From the NYSDOL Mold Program page, the minimum work standards include “Protection against fraud by prohibiting the performance of both the assessment and remediation on the same property by the same individual” and “Protection against fraud by requiring an independent mold assessment to define the scope of the remediation work” (NYSDOL Mold Program).

NYC reinforces the same rule on its Department of Health page: “To protect against fraud, New York State law prohibits the same licensed worker from carrying out both the assessment and remediation on a property” (NYC DOH Mold).

The other NYSDOL minimum work standards a homeowner can hold a contractor to:

• Use of disinfectant products consistent with EPA standards
• Provision of personal protective equipment to employees as needed
• Posted notice of the project and of the contractor’s licenses
• Completion of a post-remediation assessment

These are set out on the NYSDOL Mold Program page.

Are there special rules for New York City?

Yes. NYC layers additional obligations on top of the state Article 32 rules.

Per the NYC Department of Health:

• Owners of buildings with three or more apartments, or buildings of any size where a tenant has been diagnosed with moderate or severe persistent asthma, are required to keep tenants’ homes free of mold, including safely repairing underlying problems like water leaks.
• If the mold area is more than 10 square feet in buildings with 10 or more apartments, or in buildings with 25,000 or more square feet of non-residential floor area, building owners or managers must use NYSDOL-licensed assessment and remediation (or abatement) workers.
• For these conditions, licensed mold assessors, remediators, and abatement workers are required to file paperwork online through the NYC Department of Environmental Protection’s Mold Abatement website.

For mold problems below the licensing threshold (10 sq ft or less), NYC DOH offers a step-by-step DIY removal guide on the same page.

How do I find a licensed New York mold contractor?

NYSDOL maintains two search tools, both linked from the NYSDOL Mold Program page and FAQ:

• Licensed Mold Contractors Search Tool for businesses (assessor and remediator contractors)
• Mold Individual Licenses Search Tool for individual assessors and workers

Search by name or by license number before signing any contract. NYSDOL also publishes a “What to Expect When You Hire a Mold Assessor or Mold Remediation Contractor” guide, linked from the Mold Program page.

How do I file a mold complaint in New York?

NYSDOL accepts complaints through an online form linked from the Mold Program page: “To submit a mold complaint, please fill out the following form. Once submitted, an inspector from the district serving your county will investigate the complaint as soon as possible.”

In NYC specifically, additional channels apply for tenants and building issues. The NYC Health page directs tenants: “If the problem isn’t fixed in a timely way, or if the mold is in a non-residential location, submit a complaint online or call 311” (NYC DOH Mold).

For licensing questions, NYSDOL points contractors and applicants to:

NYS Department of Labor License and Certificate Unit Building 12, Room 161A, State Office Campus, Albany, NY 12226 (518) 457-2735

(Per the NYSDOL Mold Program page.)

What rights do New York tenants have when there is mold in a rental?

The starting point is NY Real Property Law § 235-b, which is the warranty of habitability that applies to all New York residential leases. This page does not quote § 235-b directly because the official statute viewer was unavailable at the time of writing, but the warranty broadly requires landlords to keep premises fit for human habitation.

In NYC specifically, the rules are stronger. As above, owners of buildings with three or more apartments must keep tenant homes free of mold, including fixing underlying water problems (NYC DOH). If a tenant has been diagnosed with moderate or severe persistent asthma, that obligation applies to a building of any size.

Tenants in active disputes should consult a New York attorney or a NY Attorney General consumer guide before withholding rent, vacating, or terminating a lease. Procedural rules in NY landlord-tenant law are unforgiving, and the wrong notice format can cost the tenant the remedy.

Get a mold remediation quote in New York

Looking for a mold assessor or remediation contractor in New York? Lookmold connects homeowners with vetted pros across the state. Call 866-871-0209 for a no-obligation phone consultation and we will match you with a pro in your area.