Bloomfield, NJ Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)

Chapter 319, Lead-Based Paint Inspection, was adopted by the Bloomfield Council on 4-17-2023 by Ord. No. 23-16. Section 319-1 records the Township Council's finding that dwellings constructed prior to 1978 are one of the biggest sources of lead exposure for children, and § 319-2 states that the purpose is to disclose any potentially dangerous lead paint found at inspection to proposed occupants. The chapter applies to all one-family, two-family and multifamily buildings and each dwelling unit unless exempted by § 319-7.

Section 319-5 directs a lead inspector for the Township to inspect every single-family, two-family and multifamily dwelling for lead-based paint hazards through visual assessment and dust swipe sampling. Owners and occupants must give inspectors free access at all reasonable times. A property owner or landlord can instead hire a private lead inspector certified by the State of New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. If hazards are found, § 319-6 requires the owner to remediate through abatement or hazard control and then obtain an additional inspection; if none are found, the dwelling is certified lead safe on a state form valid for two years.

The disclosure duties are in § 319-8A. Owners provide evidence of a valid lead-safe certification and the most recent tenant turnover to the Township at the cyclical inspection, give the certification to new tenants at tenant turnover, affix a copy to the lease, and keep a record that includes the tenant names if the inspection occurred during a tenancy. Fees under § 319-8B are $105 for a Township visual assessment, $25 to file a lead-safe or lead-free certification, and an additional $20 per dwelling unit inspected for the Lead Hazard Control Assistance Fund unless the Department of Community Affairs has already assessed it. In a common interest community, the unit owner pays the inspection fee, not the association.

Exemptions under § 319-7 cover dwellings built during or after 1978, certain seasonal rentals rented for less than six months a year, dwellings certified free of lead-based paint, and multiple rental dwellings registered with the Department of Community Affairs for at least 10 years with no outstanding lead violations.