Grand Rapids, MI Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)

Under Section 1203.1, the interior of any residential structure built before 1978 must be maintained so its paint does not become 'deteriorated paint,' meaning peeling, chipping, flaking, or chalking, beyond the lead-based paint enforcement threshold set in Section 1201(9): two square feet in any one room, or 10 percent of a small component like a windowsill or baseboard. Section 1202 presumes all such pre-1978 paint is lead-based and presumes loose paint particles are a lead violation unless the owner rebuts that presumption with certified testing. The rule applies to owner-occupied and rental structures alike, though certain testing duties apply only to rentals.