Pre-1978 Chattanooga homes are subject to federal lead paint disclosure under the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act, and renovations follow EPA RRP rules administered through Tennessee.
Chattanooga has a deep stock of pre-1978 housing, especially in Highland Park, St. Elmo, and North Chattanooga. Federal Title X requires sellers and landlords of target housing to give buyers and tenants the EPA lead pamphlet, disclose known lead hazards, and allow a 10-day inspection. Renovation, repair, and painting of pre-1978 units must use an EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting certified firm, with Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation handling lead-program enforcement statewide. Chattanooga building inspectors flag scraping or demolition without proper containment as a code violation.
Skipping disclosure, hiring an uncertified renovator, or sanding lead paint without containment can trigger federal fines, TDEC enforcement, and city stop-work orders.
See how Chattanooga's lead paint rules stack up against other locations.
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