Harford County, MD Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)

Section 162-10D(9) of the Minimum Livability Code sits inside the interior structure standards for rental housing and requires lead-paint abatement procedures approved by the Department of Health to be performed by the property owner in two situations. The first covers surfaces, including but not limited to ceilings, doors, radiators, stair banisters, trim molding, walls and window frames, that are in a deteriorated condition presenting a potential health hazard because of lead paint. The second covers surfaces, including doors, radiators, stair banisters, trim molding and window frames, that are covered with lead paint and present a potential biting surface, a standard aimed squarely at young children who chew on painted trim.

The obligation falls on the property owner, consistent with the rest of § 162-15, which assigns maintenance and repair duties for owner-supplied fixtures and building components to the owner rather than the tenant. The abatement work itself must follow procedures the county Department of Health has approved, tying the local Livability Code standard to the state and local health authority's technical lead-hazard reduction requirements rather than setting an independent county abatement protocol. This provision applies to rental housing units and premises covered by Chapter 162; § 162-3A(1) exempts owner-occupied single-family homes from the chapter altogether, so the lead-paint abatement duty runs specifically to landlords of rental property in unincorporated Harford County.