Syracuse Lead Grant Program

• Most homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint.
• Breathing in or swallowing dust from lead-based paint can cause health, behavior or learning problems that do not appear right away. 
• Children are more likely to be exposed to lead paint and dust by putting their hands or objects into their mouth.  

• The only way to test for lead poisoning is with a blood test.  

Need your child tested? Contact your doctor or call the Onondaga County Health Department Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at 315-435-3271. Click here for upcoming testing dates from the County.

Lead exposure occurs most commonly by breathing or eating lead contaminated dust, paint chips, and/or soil. Lead contaminated dust is created most frequently where friction of painted surfaces occurs (i.e. opening and closing windows and doors that contain lead-based paint). Due to the heaviness of lead, lead dust settles on floors and other surfaces where children play, therefore exposing them to the substance. 

Common renovation work and repair activities can disturb lead-based paint and create lead dust and chips. This is why Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Certified contractors must complete all remediation work. 

You need an expert to test your home for lead-based paint such as the City's trained Code Enforcement Officers, County Health staff, and external certified resources.

The program offers grants that pay for experts to fix problems with lead paint in your home or in a house you own and rent out. These experts are certified by the EPA to test and/or remediate lead-based paint hazards.

A lead inspection of your home will determine the type of work that gets completed through the program. Common work includes:

• Replacing or repairing old doors, windows, siding, and porches.
• Safely removing lead-based paint hazards from your home. 
• Covering up lead-based paint, so it won’t be harmful.

Participation is on a first come, first served basis. Tenants, landlords, and owner occupants can apply to this program as long as they meet the following requirements: 

• Live in homes containing lead-based paint hazards in the City of Syracuse.
• Own or occupy a one to four family residential structure built before 1978.
• Have a child under age six who lives or spends a “significant” amount of time in the home. Significant is defined as at least 3 hours per day on 2 separate days in a week (6 hours per week total), and at least 60 hours total per calendar year. 
• Have a current annual gross household income of no more than 80% of the median income for the County.