UC Health Dept. Hosts Lead Rental Registry Community Forum on April 28
Published on April 20, 2026
Ulster County Department of Health Hosts Lead Rental Registry Community Forum on April 28 in Kingston
KINGSTON, NY - The Ulster County Department of Health will host a Community Forum on Tuesday, April 28 from 6-7PM at the Kingston High School Cafeteria to answer questions about one of its newest initiatives, the New York State Lead Rental Registry. The Lead Rental Registry requires landlords of multi-unit rental properties built before 1980 in the City of Kingston to register in an online state database, undergo inspections, and complete remediation if lead hazards are identified.
Experts from the Department of Health will be available to address questions about the program and the impacts of lead poisoning on vulnerable communities, including children and pregnant people. Housing specialists from RUPCO will also be present to help renters understand what happens if lead hazards are identified in their homes. Spanish interpretation will be available.
“Lead poisoning has dangerous, lifelong impacts that contribute to poor health for some of the most vulnerable members of our county, including children,” said Eve Walter, Ulster County Public Health Director. “It is why we are thrilled to bring yet one more resource to the Department of Health’s suite of lead poisoning prevention work with the launch of Lead Rental Registry. We hope that through this Community Forum all interested members of the community, including tenants, can get their questions answered.”
“Every child deserves a safe and healthy home, and preventing lead exposure is one of the most important steps we can take to protect kids in our community,” said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. “This program will reduce risk and harm, and I encourage tenants and property owners alike to come out to the forum and get the information they need.”
The Lead Rental Registry applies only to the City of Kingston, which has been identified as one of 25 “communities of concern” across New York State due to its high rate of childhood lead poisoning.
Established by New York Public Health Law Section 1377, the Lead Rental Registry program aims to reduce childhood lead poisoning by addressing hazards in rental homes before a child is exposed.
Lead poisoning occurs when a person ingests or inhales lead paint or dust. It is extremely dangerous — especially for young children and pregnant people — but entirely preventable. Once in the body, lead can cause lifelong brain damage, permanent injury, and developmental disabilities. Peeling or chipping lead paint and contaminated dust remain the primary sources of childhood lead exposure.
For more information on Ulster County's Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, including free home inspections for eligible homes not covered by the Lead Rental Registry and information for parents of children who have high lead levels, visit https://www.ulstercountyny.gov/health/lead-poisoning-response
For more information about the Lead Rental Registry program specifically, visit ulstercountyny.gov/lead-rental-registry or call (845) 334‑LEAD.
For any questions about the Community Forum, contact Kristin Kessler, Director of Community Health, at kkes@ulstercountyny.gov.