Kirkland Building Safety: Lead Paint Rules (2026)

Any contractor performing renovation, repair, or painting work that disturbs more than six square feet of interior paint or 20 square feet of exterior paint in a Kirkland home built before 1978 must be certified under the federal EPA Renovation Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule found at 40 CFR Part 745. Certified firms must use lead-safe work practices including plastic containment, HEPA-vacuum cleanup, and wet-sanding techniques, and must provide the EPA Renovate Right pamphlet to owners and tenants before starting work. The federal Lead Disclosure Rule at 24 CFR Part 35 requires sellers and landlords of pre-1978 housing to disclose known lead-based paint hazards, provide any reports, and give buyers a 10-day opportunity to test. Washington State Department of Commerce administers the state RRP program for Washington contractors and enforces additional state-level requirements. Child-occupied facilities such as daycare homes and schools require additional Lead-Safe Certification beyond the general RRP rule. Homeowners performing work on their own property are exempt from RRP certification but are still subject to the disclosure rules when selling or renting. Kirkland does not impose additional local lead rules beyond state and federal law, but the Building Division may require lead-safe work practices as a condition of permits for pre-1978 projects. Violations can result in federal civil penalties up to 37500 dollars per day plus state enforcement action.