FACT SHEET
Mold Assessment and Remediation
in New York State
What is Mold?
Mold is a multi-cellular fungus, similar to
mushrooms and yeast. Mold can be dierent
colors, and look fuzzy, slimy, or powdery. It often
has a musty odor when present in large amounts.
Mold requires three things to grow:
• water/moisture,
• organic food source (paper, fabric,
sheetrock, etc.), and
• proper temperature.
The presence of mold means there is too much
moisture. Moisture problems can be caused by:
• plumbing leaks
• leaking roofs or windows
• high humidity
• flooding
• condensation due to poor ventilation or
insulation
It is impossible to ‘mold proof’ your house.
However, you can manage mold growth by
controlling indoor humidity levels and fixing
water leakage problems. To prevent mold from
coming back in the future, you must fix the
underlying source of moisture.
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. However, if you are sensitive to
mold, not interested in cleaning up the mold or
are not capable of cleaning the mold, you can
hire mold professionals.
Does New York require a property owner to
clean up mold when it is found?
No, there is no cleanup requirement for property
owners. However, if a property owner chooses
to hire a mold professional, those professionals
must follow the requirements of the law.
Note: Rental property owners must still provide
clean and sanitary living conditions to their tenants.
How does the Department of Labor help with
mold issues?
The Department of Labor makes sure that
professionals who do mold assessments and
remediation work have proper training, licenses
and minimum work standards.
Every mold cleanup project performed
by professionals must follow these steps:
assessment, remediation (clean up),
clearance. The law protects consumers by
barring licensed mold companies and their
employees from doing both the assessment
and remediation on the same property. One
mold company and their employees may do the
initial and post-cleanup clearance assessments,
but a dierent company and their employees
must do the actual cleanup work.
Assessments
What is an assessment?
An assessment, or a mold remediation plan, is
a document prepared by a mold professional.
It identifies mold and serves as a guide for the
cleanup project. It says what must be done, how
it is to be done, and how you will be able to tell
if all the mold has been removed. The specific
requirements are listed in Section 945 of the
Labor Law.
Am I entitled to a copy of the assessment?
Yes. If you hire a mold professional to do an
assessment, you must be given a copy. The
professional you hire to do the remediation work
must also get a copy.
The New York State Department of Labor is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
P227 (11/17)
Does a mold assessor need to perform sampling
as part of an assessment?
No. In most cases, air sampling and mold testing
are not necessary. There are no national or state
standards for “safe” levels of mold. Mold spores
are a natural part of the environment and are
always in the air and on surfaces. A thorough
visual inspection is the most important step to
identify mold problems and determine cleanup
strategies. Before contractors perform any
sampling or testing, ask what type of sampling or
testing they wish to perform, why it is necessary,
and what it will show that is not already known.
How much should an assessment cost?
The law does not say how much an assessment
should cost. We recommend that you get
estimates from dierent companies. If a
contractor recommends testing as part of
an assessment, you should have a clear
understanding of the costs for that testing and
exactly what the testing will show.
Remediation
What does the Mold Remediation Contractor do?
The remediation contractor does the actual
cleanup work. They must give you a mold
remediation work plan. The work plan must fulfill
all the requirements of the mold remediation plan
developed through the assessment.
Hiring a Mold Professional
What should I know before hiring a mold
professional?
As is true with all construction projects, the
most important step is choosing your contractor.
Contact more than one contractor for all work to
be performed.
• For Mold Assessment: Make sure each
contractor comes to the job site and
bids on the same work. Before any
work starts, you should have a clear
understanding of the scope of work and
the services the contractor will provide.
You should understand and agree with
the mold assessor’s remediation plan for
acceptable work scope and job clearance.
This may include sampling, recommended
use of biocides or other chemicals,
replacement of materials, and criteria to
demonstrate clearance after the cleanup.
• For Mold Remediation: The work plan
must fulfill all the requirements of the
mold remediation plan developed
through the assessment. The work plan
should also have specific instructions
and/or standard operating procedures
for how the contractor will perform the
cleanup work.
Ask about the contractor’s experience and
references from previous clients. If you are not
sure that the proposed work complies with local
building code rules, contact the local building code
oce before allowing the contractor to start work.
How can I verify that a Mold Assessor or Mold
Remediation Contractor is licensed by NYSDOL?
Visit the Department of Labor’ s website and use
the “Licensed Mold Contractors Search Tool” at:
https://www.labor.ny.gov/workerprotection/
safetyhealth/mold/licensing.shtm
How can I file a complaint if I do not believe the
mold professionals followed this guidance?
Submit the “Mold Contractor Complaint Form”
at: https://www.labor.ny.gov/workerprotection/
safetyhealth/mold/compliance.shtm
Where do I go for more information?
New York State Department of Labor:
http://labor.ny.gov/mold
New York City Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/
health-topics/mold.page
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:
https://www.epa.gov/mold