Lead Law FAQs

What is the Massachusetts Lead Law?

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts regulates lead paint through 105 CMR 460, the Massachusetts Lead Law. The goal of the Lead Law is to prevent children from being poisoned through ingestion of lead paint or inhalation of lead dust, and the law requires that, in residences built before 1978 where children under the age of six (6) reside, all lead paint hazards be removed or covered. Lead paint hazards include loose lead paint and lead paint on windows and other surfaces that are accessible to children.

Who is responsible for complying with the Lead Law?

Owners are responsible for complying with the Lead Law. This includes owners of dwellings and rental property, as well as owners living in their own single family homes. Compliance with the Lead Law requires obtaining a Letter of Full Compliance for each applicable residence.

What steps do I take to comply with the Lead Law?

Owners have two paths toward a Letter of Full Compliance.

The first is to hire a licensed lead inspector who will conduct a lead inspection and, if no lead hazards are identified, that inspector will issue a Letter of Full Compliance. If lead hazards are identified, the owner must use a licensed de-leading contractor or other trained and authorized person to remove or cover all lead hazards, after which, the owner must hire a lead inspector to re-inspect and issue the Letter of Full Compliance.

The second is to extend the timeframe for full de-leading and hire a licensed risk assessor in order to obtain a Letter of Interim Control prior to obtaining a Letter of Full Compliance.

Regardless of the route selected, an owner is not in compliance with the Lead Law until a Letter of Full Compliance has been received within all required timeframes.