Mold, Insurance And Removal Costs In New York
New York has 62 counties and 1,763 ZIP code neighborhoods on this guide. At the statewide price level a typical professional mold job runs about $1,600 to $6,500 before rebuild.
1958Median year homes were built
75%Homes built before 1980
46%Homes rented, not owned
$403,000Median home value
8,539,536Housing units
19,872,319People
Half the homes in New York were built before 1958, and 75 percent went up before 1980. Older plumbing, roofs and window seals are where slow leaks start, and slow leaks are the mold most home policies leave out.
The counties with the oldest housing are Kings County (1943), Montgomery County (1944), New York County (1951), Chautauqua County (1953), Fulton County (1953).
FEMA rates inland flooding high in 11 of 62 New York counties, and coastal flooding high in 5. Source FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025.
New York Rules On Mold
Who May Do Mold Work
New York licenses mold assessors, mold remediation contractors and mold abatement workers under Article 32 of the state Labor Law. The rules apply to mold jobs larger than 10 square feet. Some owners who do the work on their own homes are exempt.
The same person may not do both the assessment and the remediation on the same property. The assessor writes the plan, a separate licensed contractor does the work, and the assessor checks the result. You can check a license with the Department of Labor’s search for licensed mold contractors.
New York Mold And Insurance Rules
- In New York, mold damage is covered when it comes from a covered event. Homeowner and property FAQs, NY DFS
- Many New York policies cap what they pay for mold cleanup. Homeowner and property FAQs, NY DFS
- In a 2003 legal opinion, the New York insurance superintendent said no mold exclusions had been approved. NY DFS Office of General Counsel opinion
- Licensing. New York requires a state mold license to assess, remediate or abate mold, under Article 32 of the Labor Law. Mold Program, NY Department of Labor
- The New York license rules apply to mold jobs larger than 10 square feet. Mold FAQs, NY Department of Labor
All New York Mold And Insurance Rules lines
New York Department of Financial Services
- New York says mold damage is covered if it comes from a covered event. Customer Homeowners FAQ
- Many New York policies limit how much they pay for mold remediation. Customer Homeowners FAQ
- A 2003 New York legal opinion said the state had not approved any mold exclusions at that time. OGC Opinion No. 03-04-04
Every New York County
| County | ZIP Codes | Median Year Built | Typical Job Up To | Inland Flood Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany County | 38 | 1964 | $5,950 | Relatively Moderate |
| Allegany County | 28 | 1965 | $5,500 | Relatively Moderate |
| Bronx County | 25 | 1954 | $6,750 | Relatively High |
| Broome County | 21 | 1959 | $5,550 | Relatively Moderate |
| Cattaraugus County | 26 | 1961 | $5,500 | Relatively Moderate |
| Cayuga County | 16 | 1958 | $5,500 | Relatively Moderate |
| Chautauqua County | 35 | 1953 | $5,500 | Relatively Moderate |
| Chemung County | 15 | 1955 | $5,650 | Relatively Low |
| Chenango County | 16 | 1967 | $5,500 | Relatively Moderate |
| Clinton County | 25 | 1974 | $5,500 | Relatively Moderate |
| Columbia County | 31 | 1965 | $5,500 | Relatively Moderate |
| Cortland County | 11 | 1961 | $5,500 | Relatively Low |
| Delaware County | 34 | 1971 | $5,500 | Relatively Moderate |
| Dutchess County | 33 | 1971 | $6,550 | Relatively Moderate |
| Erie County | 66 | 1957 | $5,750 | Relatively High |
| Essex County | 29 | 1970 | $5,500 | Relatively Moderate |
| Franklin County | 22 | 1966 | $5,500 | Relatively Low |
| Fulton County | 7 | 1953 | $5,500 | Relatively Low |
| Genesee County | 15 | 1956 | $5,500 | Relatively Low |
| Greene County | 37 | 1972 | $5,500 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hamilton County | 13 | 1968 | $5,500 | Relatively Low |
| Herkimer County | 17 | 1956 | $5,550 | Relatively Moderate |
| Jefferson County | 38 | 1972 | $5,250 | Relatively Moderate |
| Kings County | 38 | 1943 | $6,750 | Very High |
| Lewis County | 16 | 1972 | $5,500 | Relatively Low |
| Livingston County | 19 | 1969 | $5,800 | Relatively Moderate |
| Madison County | 25 | 1964 | $5,750 | Relatively Moderate |
| Monroe County | 42 | 1965 | $5,800 | Relatively High |
| Montgomery County | 12 | 1944 | $5,500 | Relatively Moderate |
| Nassau County | 66 | 1955 | $6,750 | Relatively High |
| New York County | 47 | 1951 | $6,750 | Very High |
| Niagara County | 19 | 1958 | $5,750 | Relatively Moderate |
| Oneida County | 46 | 1957 | $5,550 | Relatively Moderate |
| Onondaga County | 43 | 1963 | $5,750 | Relatively High |
| Ontario County | 18 | 1975 | $5,800 | Relatively Moderate |
| Orange County | 44 | 1975 | $6,550 | Relatively High |
| Orleans County | 8 | 1954 | $5,800 | Relatively Low |
| Oswego County | 21 | 1971 | $5,750 | Relatively Moderate |
| Otsego County | 34 | 1954 | $5,500 | Relatively Moderate |
| Putnam County | 8 | 1968 | $6,750 | Relatively Low |
| Queens County | 60 | 1953 | $6,750 | Very High |
| Rensselaer County | 26 | 1962 | $5,950 | Relatively Moderate |
| Richmond County | 12 | 1974 | $6,750 | Relatively Moderate |
| Rockland County | 26 | 1970 | $6,750 | Relatively Moderate |
| Saratoga County | 22 | 1984 | $5,950 | Relatively Moderate |
| Schenectady County | 12 | 1955 | $5,950 | Relatively Moderate |
| Schoharie County | 18 | 1973 | $5,950 | Relatively Low |
| Schuyler County | 10 | 1969 | $5,500 | Relatively Low |
| Seneca County | 7 | 1957 | $5,500 | Relatively Low |
| St. Lawrence County | 44 | 1964 | $5,500 | Relatively Moderate |
| Steuben County | 26 | 1964 | $5,500 | Relatively Moderate |
| Suffolk County | 105 | 1970 | $6,750 | Relatively High |
| Sullivan County | 51 | 1972 | $5,500 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tioga County | 12 | 1968 | $5,550 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tompkins County | 12 | 1974 | $6,200 | Relatively Moderate |
| Ulster County | 54 | 1966 | $6,050 | Relatively Moderate |
| Warren County | 22 | 1973 | $5,700 | Relatively Low |
| Washington County | 22 | 1962 | $5,700 | Relatively Low |
| Wayne County | 18 | 1966 | $5,800 | Relatively Low |
| Westchester County | 72 | 1958 | $6,750 | Relatively High |
| Wyoming County | 19 | 1961 | $5,500 | Relatively Low |
| Yates County | 9 | 1969 | $5,500 | Relatively Low |
Largest Cities
- New York
- Buffalo
- Rochester
- Yonkers
- Syracuse
- Albany
- New Rochelle
- Cheektowaga
- Mount Vernon
- Schenectady
- Utica
- White Plains
- Hempstead
- Tonawanda Town
- Levittown
- Irondequoit
- Niagara Falls
- West Seneca
- Freeport
- Hicksville
- West Babylon
- Coram
- Valley Stream
- Central Islip
- Brighton
- Elmont
- Commack
- East Meadow
- Long Beach
- New City
- Uniondale
- Baldwin
- Oceanside
- Rome
- Centereach
- Bay Shore
- Franklin Square
- Harrison
- Glen Cove
- Shirley