Lead Paint in Older Homes: EPA's Rules Focus on the Dust, Not Just the Paint
A national housing survey published in Environmental Health Perspectives produced a surprising result: 2.7 million homes without lead-based paint had dust lead hazards. Its authors explained that renovation, maintenance and repainting tend to remove lead-painted surfaces but may leave lead dust behind. That finding is the most useful way to think about lead paint in older homes. The paint is where the lead comes from, but the dust is what usually harms people.
Why your home’s build year matters
The cutoff year comes from federal law. In 1978, the federal government banned the sale of lead-based paint for use in homes and childcare facilities. The paint already on walls stayed where it was. EPA estimates that about three-quarters of U.S. homes built before 1978 still contain some lead-based paint.
That figure is an estimate across many homes. It can’t tell you whether a specific home has lead paint. Only testing can do that.
When does lead paint become dangerous?
Lead paint in good condition is often not the problem. EPA says that if lead-based paint is in good shape, it is usually not a problem. The risk starts when paint wears down. Old or worn lead-based paint, especially on surfaces with constant friction like doors or window sills, can produce chips and dust.
A window sash is a good example of how this happens. Every time it slides up and down, it rubs against painted wood and grinds off a little paint, much like sandpaper. CDC lists windows, doors, floors, porches, stairways and cabinets as common places to find lead dust. Renovation makes the problem much worse. Sanding, cutting and replacing windows can create hazardous lead dust.
Young children face the greatest health risks from lead paint. Children under six are most at risk because they crawl on floors and put their hands in their mouths, and they absorb more lead than adults. In children, lead exposure can cause lowered IQ, damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and hearing problems. In adults, it is linked to reproductive problems, high blood pressure, and memory and concentration problems. Because most exposed children and adults have no symptoms, CDC says a blood lead test is the best way to tell.
Lead paint testing in older houses: inspection or risk assessment?
There are two kinds of professional evaluation, and they answer different questions. A lead paint inspection reports the lead content of every painted structural part of the home, but it won’t tell you whether the paint is a hazard. A risk assessment identifies serious hazards such as peeling paint and lead dust, and tells you what actions to take.
Professionals can test for lead in several ways. Note that EPA only recognizes tests conducted by certified inspectors, risk assessors and RRP-certified renovators, even though some test kits are sold to the public.
| Option | What it tells you | Who performs it |
|---|---|---|
| Lead paint inspection | Lead content of each painted part | Certified inspector |
| Risk assessment | Hazards present and next steps | Certified risk assessor |
| EPA-recognized test kit | A negative result can rule out lead | Trained professional |
| Lab paint-chip analysis | Lab result on a sample | Certified professional |
| X-ray fluorescence (XRF) | On-site instrument reading | Certified professional |
| Assume lead is present | No testing; lead-safe work required | Certified renovation firm |
The lab and XRF options come from EPA’s list of professional testing methods, which includes sending samples to a National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program certified lab. CDC also suggests asking your state or local health department about testing paint and dust.
What the RRP rule requires of paid contractors
Under the rule, firms performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities and kindergartens built before 1978 must be EPA- or state-certified and must use certified renovators. Firms don’t have to test first. They can assume lead-based paint is present and follow lead-safe work practices.
| Date | Event | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Residential lead paint sales banned | Pre-1978 homes are the risk group |
| 1990 | One state licensed lead inspectors | Certification was rare |
| March 16, 2007 | EPA posts new renovation studies | Added to rulemaking record |
| 2008 | EPA issues RRP Rule | Certification for paid renovators |
| July 15, 2009 | Minor amendments published | Program details refined |
| April 22, 2010 | Rule fully effective | Firms must be certified |
| May 6, 2010 | Opt-out amendment | Rule amended |
Sources for the table: the 1978 ban is from EPA, the 1990 licensing figure is from the 2002 survey, and the rule’s dates are from EPA’s rulemaking page.
For homeowners, tenants, childcare providers and parents, EPA’s Renovate Right pamphlet covers the legal requirements for lead-safe work practices. For contractors, property managers and maintenance staff, EPA points to a handbook called the Small Entity Compliance Guide to Renovate Right. Homeowners can find certified firms with EPA’s Lead-Based Paint Professional Locator Tool. Renters are also covered: landlords and property management companies must comply with the RRP Rule when their work disturbs paint.
Doing the work yourself
Homeowners working on their own houses usually fall outside the rule. The RRP Rule generally does not apply to homeowners doing projects in their own pre-1978 homes. The exceptions are owners who rent out all or part of the home, run a childcare center there, or flip houses for profit.
Not being covered by the rule doesn’t mean there’s no risk. Before you start, EPA says to contain your work area to prevent dust and debris from escaping into the rest of your home: cover floors with plastic sheeting and close and seal all doors in your work area. EPA’s advice for DIYers:
- Fix small areas of damaged paint (under 6 square feet) as soon as possible without sanding.
- If you must sand, wet the area first, sand as little as possible and clean up thoroughly.
- Don’t try to remove lead-based paint yourself. Removal (called abatement) is work for professionals.
CDC adds that you should keep children and pregnant women away from renovation work and cleanup. It also recommends wet-mopping floors and horizontal surfaces regularly and washing children’s hands often.
The sources used here don’t give figures on what lead paint removal costs. Get quotes from certified firms before you plan a budget.
Lead dust can remain long after the paint is gone. That means testing, careful work practices and cleanup can matter as much as finding the paint itself.
Sources
- epa.gov – “Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program Rules | US EPA” (2013)
- epa.gov – “Lead Test Kits | US EPA” (2013)
- epa.gov – “What are some of the health effects of lead? | US EPA” (2020)
- pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – “The prevalence of lead-based paint hazards in U.S. housing.” (2002)
- epa.gov – “Reduce the Risk of Lead Exposure at Home | US EPA” (2013)
- epa.gov – “Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program | US EPA” (2013)
- cdc.gov – “About Lead in Paint | Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention | CDC” (2026)