Hillsborough County, FL Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)

Section 8-115(f)(3), part of the county's Structural Standards for Dwellings article, requires every exterior surface of a dwelling or dwelling unit, doors, window frames, cornices, porches, trim, balconies and decks alike, to be kept painted or otherwise protected according to the manufacturer's specifications, with peeling, flaking, and chipped paint eliminated and the surface repainted. Embedded in that same maintenance duty is a flat prohibition: no lead-based paint may be applied to any surface of any structure. The rule sits inside Article IV, Property Maintenance Code (Sec.

8-110 through Sec. 8-118), which under Sec. 8-113 applies only to unincorporated Hillsborough County; Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City run their own building codes and are not covered. Enforcement runs through the Code Enforcement Official, who under Sec. 8-110 must first give the owner or responsible party written notice identifying the violated section, the corrective action required, a reasonable compliance period, and the penalty for non-compliance, served by hand delivery, posting, or certified mail. Sec. 8-111 routes violations to the Hillsborough County Code Enforcement Board or a Special Magistrate under Ordinance No.

S. Ch. 69. Where the Board finds a violation is a serious threat to public health or safety, or is irreparable, Sec. 8-118(b) lets the Code Enforcement Official make the repairs directly and bill the owner for the cost. Sec. 8-113(b) also makes clear that a stricter state or Florida Building Code standard on lead paint would control if one existed.