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Anaheim, CA Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified April 2026

Key Facts

Epa Rrp Rule
EPA RRP Rule applies to disturbance of more than 6 sq ft
California Title
California Title 17 governs formal lead abatement and worker certification
Lead
Lead-Safe Certified firm required for paid work in pre-1978 housing
Homeowner Exemption For
Homeowner exemption for own primary residence, but debris still may be
Landlords Must Provide
Landlords must provide EPA lead disclosure at lease signing for pre-1978 rentals

Summary

Any renovation that disturbs paint in an Anaheim home built before 1978 must be performed by a Lead-Safe Certified firm under the federal RRP Rule and must meet California Title 17 lead-abatement standards when the work is abatement rather than routine renovation.

EPA’s RRP Rule requires that anyone paid to perform work that disturbs painted surfaces in homes, childcare facilities and preschools built before 1978 be certified and their employees be trained (either as a certified renovator or on-the-job by a certified renovator) in the use of lead-safe work practices that minimize occupants’ exposure to lead hazards. In general, the RRP Rule does not apply to homeowners doing RRP projects in their own pre-1978 homes. However, it does apply if you rent all or part of your home, operate a childcare center in your home or if you buy, renovate and sell homes for profit (i.e., a house flipper). [...] Contractors: In general, anyone paid to perform work that disturbs paint in housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978 must be certified in lead-safe work practices. This includes all firms, even sole proprietorships. [...] Property Managers: Property management companies that perform, offer or claim to perform work that disturbs paint in a pre-1978 residential building or child-occupied facility must become a lead-safe certified firm.

Source: EPA Lead Renovation, Repair & Painting RuleView official code

Full Breakdown

Anaheim has a large stock of pre-1978 housing, particularly in the Anaheim Colony and central neighborhoods, which makes lead-paint rules highly relevant to local construction. Two parallel regulatory schemes apply. The federal EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule (40 CFR Part 745) requires any contractor performing renovation, repair, or painting that disturbs more than 6 square feet of interior paint or 20 square feet of exterior paint in a pre-1978 dwelling or child-occupied facility to be an EPA-certified Lead-Safe firm, to follow specific containment and cleaning practices, and to provide the EPA Renovate Right pamphlet to owners and occupants before work begins.

California has primacy for this program through the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch, which enforces Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations, Division 1, Chapter 8. Title 17 layers additional rules for lead abatement (work specifically intended to permanently reduce lead hazards) including mandatory clearance testing, certified lead-related construction supervisors and workers, and pre-work notifications to CDPH. Homeowners doing work on their own primary residence are exempt from the certified-firm requirement but must still handle debris as hazardous waste if it tests above regulatory limits.

Anaheim Building and Safety requires disclosure of lead-related construction on permit applications for work in pre-1978 structures, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District enforces exterior dust controls during paint removal. Tenant-occupied rental units trigger additional landlord disclosure duties under 42 USC 4852d.

Frequently Asked Questions

My Anaheim house was built in 1965 and I am hiring a painter: what do they need?
The painting firm must be EPA Lead-Safe Certified, must use contained work practices, and must give you the EPA Renovate Right pamphlet before starting.
Can I remove peeling paint from my own Anaheim home?
Yes as the owner-occupant, but you should still follow Lead-Safe work practices and treat debris as potential hazardous waste if your home predates 1978.

Sources & Official References

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