Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair, and Painting
Lead paint and dust in older homes increases risk of lead poisoning
Lead poisoning is extremely dangerous, especially for young children. There is no safe level of lead. Once in the body, lead can cause lifelong brain damage, permanent injury, and disabilities. Pre-1980 homes remain the leading cause of lead exposure from peeling and chipping lead paint and dust. Yet, these exposures are preventable.
Information for property owners, landlords, and contractors
Get EPA certified in lead-safe renovation, repair, and painting
Renovation, repair, or painting projects in older homes can easily create dangerous lead dust. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that projects that disturb lead paint in homes, child care facilities, and preschools built before 1978 be performed by lead-safe certified contractors. The rule applies to all building owners and managers who rent all or part of your home, operate a child care center in your home, or if you buy, renovate, and sell homes for profit (e.g., a house flipper).
New Lead Rental Registry Law is are scheduled to go into effect in November 2025.
Property owners, landlords, and contractors in 25 communities of concern are encouraged to learn more about Lead Rental Registry Program requirements. This nation-leading statewide prevention program will launch in Albany, Amsterdam, Auburn, Binghamton, Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Elmira, Gloversville, Jamestown, Kingston, Middletown, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Newburgh, Niagara Falls, Poughkeepsie, Rochester, Rome, Schenectady, Spring Valley, Syracuse, Troy, Utica, Watertown, and Yonkers. These communities have the highest number of childhood lead poisonings and older rental properties. The Law requires landlords to remove sources of lead in pre-1980 residential rental housing with two or more units.
Information for do-it-yourselfers
EPA recommends homeowners hire a lead-safe certified contractor when doing renovation, repair, and painting projects in older homes. Older homes can contain lead paint, often under newer paint. If you plan to do the work yourself, it's important to do the job safely. Lead paint dust and chips are dangerous, especially for babies and young children.
WORK SMART, WET, and CLEAN to reduce lead dust
- Prepare the work area and remove furniture. Use plastic sheeting to cover floors and anything that can't be removed from the areas. Close windows and cover doorways to work areas with plastic sheeting. Plastic sheeting isn’t expensive and must be thrown out after the job is done.
- Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) including a painter’s hat, coveralls, shoe covers, and use an N-95 respirator when working.
- Avoid removing old paint. Replace building components if possible.
- If paint removal is necessary, avoid sanding, burning, and grinding. Use water while working to reduce dust and fumes. For example, use a water spray bottle to wet any surface to be scraped or sanded.
- Clean up after the work is complete. Use a wet mop with a removable head and then throw out the mop head after you’re done. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter followed by mopping to ensure surfaces are dust free. Shop vacs should not be used for cleanup because they can spread lead dust.
- Children and pregnant people should stay out of work areas until the work area is clean.
Contact your local health department if you have questions about lead in the home or to get your child tested.
More Information
- Tips for Contractors and Do-It-Yourselfers
- Lead-safe Advice for Do-It-Yourselfers (EPA)
- What You Need to Know About Working with Lead Paint
- Contractors: Lead Safety During Renovation (EPA)
- Renovate Right (EPA) (Available in English and Spanish)
- Lead Hotline - The National Lead Information Center (EPA)
