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Housing-Based Injury Control and Prevention Program

Program Overview 

The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) Housing-Based Injury Control and Prevention Program addresses complaints about housing issues that are a health or safety risk to the people living there.  Program staff investigate issues, provide education and information, and let the property owner know that the problems need to be fixed.  If the property owner does not fix the problems, then the ECDOH can bring the owner to Housing Court or a Commissioner’s Hearing.  See the Sanitary Code of Erie County for more information.

Serious health and safety risks include:

  • Improper venting
  • Sanitary sewer leaks
  • Lack of heat or other utilities
  • Blocked egress/exits
  • Conditions that may cause lead poisoning

E.D.I.T.H.Important Information about Housing Related Risks

  • Improper venting in a house is dangerous because it can cause carbon monoxide (CO), from burning fuel, to build up in the home instead of venting safely to the outside. Carbon Monoxide is known as “The Invisible Killer".
  • Egress means the exits and escape routes out of a house in case of a fire or other emergency. Blocked egress could trap a person in a building during a fire. Make sure to practice E.D.I.T.H. (Exit Drills In The Home often.
  • Download the free Ready Erie Preparedness App. Through this app you can get notifications, find emergency shelters and evacuation maps, create your own emergency plan and more. 
  • If you cannot stay in your home due to lack of heat or other serious issue, call 211 WNY by dialing 211 on your phone or call 1-888-696-9211. 
  • Erie County Department of Social Services Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) can help with paying heating bills.
  • For help with house repairs, see the Erie County Housing Resource Guide. 

Service Requests & Complaints

Related Programs

FAQs

I think I have mold in my house. Can the ECDOH test it and clean it up?

No. Since there are no federal, state, or local regulations specific to mold, the ECDOH cannot test for mold or enforce mold clean up.  See our Mold & Moisture page for information about mold, how to clean it up and how to prevent it.

I have bed bugs, cockroaches, spiders or other insects/pests in my home. Can the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) come out and exterminate them?

The Erie County Department of Health does not make inspections or exterminate for any type of insects or other pests except for rodents/rats.

If extermination is needed, you or the property owners should hire a licensed professional exterminator, also called Pesticide Applicator, to get rid of the problem. The NY State Department of Environmental Conservation operates the certification program for Pesticide Applicators.  See this list of certified pesticide applicators in NY State.

Rat/Rodents -The ECDOH operate a Rodent Control Program for properties that are four (4) units or less and which are not part of an apartment complex or commercial property.  Staff inspect complaints about as rat problems, garbage that is not stored properly, dog feces that are not cleaned up, improper bird and wildlife feeding, etc.  These issues create places for rats to eat and live and can create problems for wildlife.  Baiting service (extermination) is provided free of charge. 

Information on common household infestation:

I have bed bugs, cockroaches or other insects/pests in my apartment and my landlord says I’m responsible for exterminating. Is that true?

The answer to this question depends on how many units or apartments there are in the building where you live.

In a single family house, the occupant is responsible for extermination.

In locations with two or more units or apartments, the owner is responsible for exterminating. The owner is responsible for making sure the building is in good condition and without rats or insects.

Sanitary Code of Erie County: Responsibility of Owners and Occupants

1.14 Responsibility for extermination. Every occupant of a dwelling containing a single dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents or other pests therein or on the premises. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, whenever infestation is caused by failure of the owner to maintain a dwelling in a rat-proof or reasonable insect-proof condition, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner. Whenever infestation exists in two or more of the dwelling units in any dwelling, or in the shared or public parts of a dwelling containing two or more units, extermination thereof shall be the responsibility of the owner.

If extermination is needed, you or the property owners should hire a licensed professional exterminator, also called Pesticide Applicator, to get rid of the problem. The NY State Department of Environmental Conservation operates the certification program for Pesticide Applicators.  See this list of certified pesticide applicators in NY State.

Rat/Rodents -The ECDOH operate a Rodent Control Program for properties that are four (4) units or less and which are not part of an apartment complex or commercial property.  Staff inspect complaints about as rat problems, garbage that is not stored properly, dog feces that are not cleaned up, improper bird and wildlife feeding, etc.  These issues create places for rats to eat and live and can create problems for wildlife.  Baiting service (extermination) is provided free of charge. 

To request baiting or report a problem, complete the Rodent Service Request & Complaint Form or call (716) 961-6800.

Information on common household infestation:

The building I live in or work in is making me sick. Can the ECDOH test the building?

The building I live in or work in is making me sick. Can the ECDOH test the building?

The ECDOH receives many inquiries regarding "testing" of environments. It is important to note that random testing for unknown substances causing unidentified or poorly defined ailments is generally neither helpful, sound public health practice, or even scientifically or logistically possible.

The word "testing" is often used by the public in a nonspecific way. However, when the word is used scientifically it can refer to numerous different procedures by many different kinds of laboratories to discover thousands and thousands of different agents. Categories of agents include biological, chemical, and radiological; and, within each of these categories there are many different subcategories of agents. For example, biological agents include bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and molds. Each of these subcategories is further divided into individual agents (species) each of which may require a very different and very specific test or series of tests to detect. For some agents, there may not be any scientifically accepted tests.

The investigation of any link between the environment and human illness should begin with a clear medical diagnosis. Therefore, the ECDOH recommends that individuals concerned about symptoms, or other health complaints, should first see their health care provider for further evaluation, and if warranted, referral to a specialist. If a diagnosis can be made, AND if the condition has been shown scientifically to have a potential environmental cause, then focused testing of the environment MAY be of benefit. However, testing is rarely indicated and would need to be done by a third party since the ECDOH does not routinely test buildings

It is also important to note that an individual case of any given disease generally should not trigger an environmental investigation. A situation in which there are abnormally increased numbers of individuals with the same diagnoses who have a common link to an environment (e.g., co-workers) MAY warrant an environmental investigation. Although household members share a common environment, a common ailment could be related to genetics rather than the environment. Epidemiological evaluation and complex statistical analysis are often necessary to determine whether the number of individuals with the same diagnosis is abnormally increased, or just the expected incidence in the community (i.e., background incidence).

The ECDOH can only address and enforce conditions that are regulated by public health law. Building maintenance is the responsibility of the property owner; and the role of the ECDOH in owner-occupied dwellings is very limited. There are home inspection companies that may offer "sick building" evaluations and may be able to provide consultation or testing. You may find these companies listed in the telephone book or in other sources. For more information about sick building syndrome, see EPA Indoor Air Quality.

Contact 

Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH)
Environmental Health Division
503 Kensington Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14214
Phone: 716-961-6800 
Fax: 716-961-6880

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