If you are dealing with mold in a home or building anywhere in New York, this page is a free resource to help you find qualified, independent mold remediation companies and understand how the work is regulated here. New York is one of the states that licenses mold professionals: under state Labor Law, mold assessors and mold remediation contractors must be licensed by the New York State Department of Labor. Below you can browse remediators near you and learn what to check before you hire.
Find a mold remediation company near you
Choose your city or region to see independent mold remediation companies serving your area of New York.
Before you hire any remediator, we strongly recommend starting with an independent mold inspection so you know the true scope of the problem and have objective documentation in hand.
A quick word on who we are: Mold Inspection & Testing (MI&T) performs mold assessment and testing only — we do not remediate. In New York that is a distinct, licensed role: the state treats mold assessment and mold remediation as separate functions, and by law they cannot be performed by the same company on the same job. We inspect, sample, and report; you take that report to any licensed remediation contractor you choose. Because we never bid on the removal work, our findings have no stake in how much repair follows.
Why mold is a common problem in New York homes
New York's humid continental climate sets the stage for indoor moisture. Statewide, average annual precipitation runs a little over 40 inches, and total precipitation has been well above average since 2000, according to the NOAA New York State Climate Summary. Warm, humid summers push indoor humidity into the range where mold thrives, while the state's older, densely built housing stock — much of it with cellars and below-grade apartments — traps that moisture against porous materials.
Flooding is the other major driver. Coastal and tidal New York City saw catastrophic saltwater flooding during Superstorm Sandy in 2012, which caused roughly $19 billion in damage in the city alone. In September 2021, the remnants of Hurricane Ida dropped record-breaking rainfall on New York City in a matter of hours, overwhelming basements and killing residents trapped in below-grade apartments. Even the state's single-day rainfall record — 13.57 inches at Islip on Long Island in August 2014 — shows how quickly water can enter a home. Whenever building materials stay wet beyond a day or two, mold growth commonly follows.
Upstate adds its own moisture patterns: lake-effect snow buries Buffalo, Rochester, and the Tug Hill each winter, and spring melt plus river flooding along the Mohawk, Susquehanna, and Catskill valleys repeatedly soaks basements and crawlspaces. Across the state, the pattern is the same — water gets in, and mold follows if drying is slow.
Is mold remediation regulated in New York?
Yes — and this is the most important thing to understand before hiring. Under New York Labor Law Article 32 (sections 930–936), the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) licenses the people who do mold work. There are separate credentials for mold assessors, mold remediation contractors, mold abatement supervisors, and mold abatement workers. Licensing generally applies to projects where the affected mold surface area is greater than about 10 square feet; smaller jobs, work by residential owner-occupants on their own homes, and certain small buildings of four or fewer dwelling units are exempt under Labor Law § 933.
The rule that sets New York apart is the separation of assessment and remediation. Labor Law § 936 prohibits a licensee from performing both the mold assessment and the mold remediation on the same property, and it bars any single person from owning an interest in both the assessing company and the remediating company on the same job. In practice, that means the professional who diagnoses your mold must be independent from the contractor who removes it — a built-in check against inflated scopes of work. The assessor prepares the assessment and work analysis; the remediation contractor prepares and follows a written work plan.
What this means for you: before you sign anything, verify the contractor's current NYSDOL mold license (assessment, remediation, supervisor, or worker, as applicable) directly through the New York State Department of Labor. A legitimate New York remediator will provide their license information without hesitation.
Mold, renters, and landlords in New York
New York renters have meaningful protections. Under Real Property Law § 235-b, every residential lease carries an implied warranty of habitability: the landlord warrants that the premises are fit for human habitation and free of conditions that would be dangerous, hazardous, or detrimental to the tenant's life, health, or safety. Persistent mold and the water intrusion behind it can fall within that warranty. Tenants cannot waive this right, and remedies can include a rent reduction (rent abatement) reflecting the reduced value of the tenancy while the condition persists.
New York City goes further with its own local mold rules, including requirements aimed at indoor allergen and mold hazards in residential buildings. Rules vary by locality, so this section is general information, not legal advice — a landlord, tenant, or attorney should confirm how the law applies to a specific situation. In any dispute, independent, third-party documentation of where the mold is, how extensive it is, and what caused it is invaluable. Because MI&T does not perform remediation, our reports serve as neutral evidence for either party.
Standards a good remediator follows
Beyond the state license, the best New York remediators work to recognized industry standards. The ANSI/IICRC S520 Standard for Professional Mold Remediation defines containment, worker protection, and cleaning methods. U.S. EPA mold guidance emphasizes fixing the moisture source first and drying materials quickly. And when clearance testing is done after remediation, samples should be analyzed by an AIHA-accredited laboratory for credible, defensible results. These voluntary standards complement — they do not replace — the NYSDOL licensing and work-plan requirements of Labor Law Article 32.
How to choose a mold remediation contractor in New York
Verify the NYSDOL license
Start here. Confirm the contractor holds a current New York State Department of Labor mold license for the role they will play (assessment, remediation, supervisor, or worker) under Labor Law Article 32. Remember that the law requires the assessor and remediator on the same job to be separate parties. Additional credentials such as IICRC or NORMI certification are a plus, but in New York the state license is the baseline you should never skip.
Keep inspection and remediation independent
New York law requires this separation, and it is good practice everywhere: the company that diagnoses the mold should not be the one paid to remove it. An independent inspection gives you an objective scope before money is on the table. You can schedule an independent MI&T assessment at https://moldinspectionandtest.com/new-york.
Insist on a written scope of work
Ask for a written work plan that spells out the affected areas, containment, removal and cleaning methods, moisture-source repairs, and how success will be verified. In New York a licensed remediation contractor is expected to prepare a written work plan — get it in your hands before work begins.
Confirm insurance and references
Ask for proof of general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage, and request recent local references. A reputable New York contractor will provide both.
Get more than one estimate
Collect at least two or three written estimates for the same defined scope. Comparing bids against a single independent assessment helps you spot outliers and understand fair pricing for your area.
Frequently asked questions
-
How do I find a mold remediation company near me in New York?
Use the city links on this page to browse independent, NYSDOL-licensed mold remediation companies serving your part of New York, from New York City and Long Island to Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, and the Hudson Valley. Because Mold Inspection & Testing performs assessment and testing only and never remediation, we can point you to remediators without a stake in the repair work. We recommend starting with an independent inspection so you know the scope of the problem before you hire anyone.
-
Do you need a license to do mold remediation in New York?
Yes. Under New York Labor Law Article 32, the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) licenses mold assessors, mold remediation contractors, mold abatement supervisors, and mold abatement workers. A license is generally required when the affected mold surface area is greater than about 10 square feet. Always verify a contractor's current NYSDOL mold license before signing a contract.
-
Can the same company do both the mold inspection and the remediation in New York?
No. New York Labor Law Article 32 (§ 936) prohibits a licensee from performing both the mold assessment and the mold remediation on the same property, and it bars anyone from owning an interest in both the assessment and remediation companies on the same job. This separation-of-function rule is designed to prevent conflicts of interest, and it mirrors the way Mold Inspection & Testing works: we assess and test only, so the company that finds the mold is never the company paid to remove it.
-
When is mold remediation legally required in New York?
New York does not order homeowners to remediate, but its licensing rules apply once mold covers a surface area larger than roughly 10 square feet. Below that threshold, and for owner-occupants working on their own homes and certain small buildings of four or fewer units, a license is not required under Labor Law § 933. Landlords also have obligations under the warranty of habitability, and New York City has additional local mold rules.
-
What standards should a New York mold remediation company follow?
Look for work that follows the ANSI/IICRC S520 Standard for Professional Mold Remediation and U.S. EPA mold guidance, with any post-remediation clearance samples analyzed by an AIHA-accredited laboratory. In New York these voluntary standards complement, but do not replace, the NYSDOL licensing and work-plan requirements of Labor Law Article 32.
-
Does Mold Inspection & Testing remove mold?
No. Mold Inspection & Testing is an inspection-and-testing-only company — in New York terms, we work as independent mold assessors. We identify moisture sources, sample and test, and document conditions, then provide an objective report you can hand to any licensed remediation contractor. Keeping assessment and remediation separate is required by New York law and is core to how we serve homeowners.
This page is a free educational resource and reflects our general understanding of New York law as of August 2026. It is not legal advice. Statutes, licensing requirements, and local rules change and vary by locality — verify current requirements with the New York State Department of Labor or a qualified professional before acting.
References
1323 East 18th st, Brooklyn, NY 11230
Daniel Levy (Operational Manager)
347-424-7569
Send Email
