Greenville, NC Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)

Section 9-1-95(I), part of the Minimum Housing Code's structural-condition standards, has applied since January 1, 1995. It requires all exterior surfaces of a dwelling not inherently resistant to deterioration to be treated with a protective coating, such as paint, with enough frequency to prevent deterioration, and those surfaces must be cleaned of flaking, loose or defective material before recoating. Inside, any loose or peeling wall covering or paint must be removed and the exposed surface left smooth and sanitary. The section then sets the lead limit directly: no paint used for interior painting of any dwelling may exceed the amount of lead paint pigment established by the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission, and paint chips or paint dust cannot be left on interior or exterior surfaces of the building or on the premises generally.

Because this sits inside Article F, the Minimum Housing Code, it is enforced the same way as the rest of the article: the Code Enforcement Supervisor can act on a complaint or an inspection under Section 9-1-111, hold a hearing, and order repair or repainting if the dwelling is found unfit for habitation. Ignoring that order is a Class 1 misdemeanor under Section 9-1-119, with civil penalties running $100 to $500 for violations within 365 days, and the same appeal path through Section 1-1-20 of the City Code applies here as it does to any other housing code order.