LEAD-BASED PAINT INSPECTIONS REQUIRED FOR RENTAL DWELLINGS
The State of NJ now requires periodic lead-based paint inspections for certain dwellings constructed prior to 1978 for the purposed of identifying lead-based paint hazards.
The Division of Housing Preservation has been tasked with conducting these inspections as assigned in Ord. 23-018.
Lead is a toxic heavy metal that occurs naturally in our environment. It was once widely used in commercial products such as gasoline, paint, cosmetics, spices, and pottery. If children are exposed to it, their nervous systems and kidneys can be damaged. Learning disabilities, attention-deficit disorder, and decreased intelligence have been found in exposed children. Behavior, speech, and language problems, hearing damage, decreased muscle and bone growth, and poor muscle coordination are major concerns of lead exposure.
All single-family, two-family, and multiple rental dwellings must be inspected upon tenant turnover or within two years of the effective date of the law, 7/22/23. If your dwelling is subject to the law, the Housing Preservation Division must be furnished with a copy of a valid lead-safe certificate.
Inspections are required every three years or upon tenant turnover, whichever is less.
Exempt Dwellings:
- Dwellings constructed during or after 1978
- Single-family and two-family seasonal rental dwellings rented for less than six-months duration each year by tenants without consecutive lease renewals
- Dwellings that have been certified to be free of lead-based paint pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:17-3.6(b).
- Multiple rental dwellings that have been registered with the Department of Community Affairs for at least ten years and have no outstanding lead violations from the most recent cyclical inspection performed under the “Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law” (N.J.S.A. 55:13A-1). Check to see if your rental is exempt on this list.
Owners are permitted to directly hire a lead evaluation contractor to perform periodic inspections.
- To submit a request for a Lead-Based Paint Inspection, please click jcnj.org/permitportal and complete the "Lead- Based Paint Inspection" application.
- To provide the Bureau with proof of your exemption from this inspection, please click jcnj.org/permitportal and upload your documents to the "Certified Lead Evaluation Registration" application.
- Both applications require that owners complete and upload an Affidavit in support of their submissions.
Failure to comply can result in a fine of up to $1,000.00 per week until the inspection has been conducted or until remediation efforts have initiated.
For more details about the law and what it means for you, please visit the NJ State Website.
LEAD REMEDIATION AND ABATEMENT PROGRAM (LRAP)
Lead-based paint in buildings poses serious health risks, particularly for children who may ingest paint chips or inhale lead-contaminated dust. The New Jersey Lead Remediation and Abatement program (LRAP), funded by a $180 million federal grant, aims to address this issue by supporting the removal of lead-based hazards from low- to moderate-income households.
Households with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income for the County in which the municipality is situated, residing in one to ten family residential properties constructed prior to 1978, are eligible.
Housing Qualifications
- Property was built prior to 1978
- Property has lead-based paint hazards
- Property contains no more than 10 residential units
- Property is free from structural issues
To apply for the LRAP, please CLICK HERE to access the Department of Community Affairs portal. For more helpful information, please review the resources below: