Lowell's historic housing stock triggers the Massachusetts Lead Law requiring full de-leading of pre-1978 homes where any child under 6 resides, a critical compliance issue for landlords and buyers.
Lowell's housing stock is among the oldest in Massachusetts, with large numbers of 19th and early 20th century homes and mill-era multifamily buildings. The Massachusetts Lead Law (MGL c.111 s.197A and 105 CMR 460) requires that any residential property built before 1978 where a child under 6 years of age resides must be de-leaded or brought into interim control to remove or cover all accessible lead paint. Landlords cannot refuse to rent to families with young children because of lead paint, and doing so is discrimination under MGL c.151B. Property owners must provide prospective tenants and buyers with the state Property Transfer Lead Paint Notification and, for rentals, the Tenant Lead Law Notification. De-leading work must be performed by a licensed contractor, with interim controls possible for 1-2 years. A Letter of Interim Control or Letter of Full Compliance from a licensed lead inspector documents compliance. Violations expose owners to strict liability for child lead poisoning, including statutory damages and attorney fees.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle lead paint.
See how Lowell's lead paint rules stack up against other locations.
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