Manchester, CT Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code of Ordinances § 242-18D
- Lead threshold
- 1.0 mg/cm2 or 0.50% by weight
- Trigger for dust-wipe sample
- Child under six, deteriorated paint
- Referral agency
- Director of Health
- Covered surfaces
- Dwellings, child/day-care facilities, fences, outbuildings
Summary
Manchester's Property Maintenance Code requires painted surfaces on dwellings and child/day-care facilities exceeding lead thresholds to be kept free of peeling, chipping and flaking paint. If a child under six lives on the property and deteriorated paint is found, the code official collects a dust wipe sample and refers results to the Director of Health for abatement.
D. Lead-based paint. Interior and exterior painted surfaces of dwellings and child- and day-care facilities, including fences and outbuildings, which contain lead levels equal to or greater than 1.0 milligram per square centimeter or in excess of 0.50% lead by weight shall be maintained in a condition free from peeling, chipping and flaking paint or removed or covered in an approved manner. Any surface to be covered shall first be identified by approved warnings as to the lead content of such surface. The code official will attach a lead hazard warning to all repair orders for target dwellings whenever these conditions are not maintained. (1) Violations. Violations concerning lead-based paint shall be directed to the Director of Health for compliance with state and federal regulations. (2) Deteriorated condition of painted surfaces. If a child under six years of age resides in the property and there exist deteriorated, flaking or loose paint conditions, the code official will collect a dust wipe sample when applicable.
Full Breakdown
Code of Ordinances § 242-18D covers "interior and exterior painted surfaces of dwellings and child- and day-care facilities, including fences and outbuildings," that contain lead at or above 1.0 milligram per square centimeter or more than 0.50% lead by weight. Such surfaces "shall be maintained in a condition free from peeling, chipping and flaking paint or removed or covered in an approved manner," and any surface being covered must first be marked with an approved warning of its lead content. The code official attaches a lead hazard warning to every repair order issued for a "target dwelling" where these conditions are not met.
Under § 242-18D(1), violations concerning lead-based paint go directly to the Director of Health for compliance with state and federal regulations rather than being handled solely through the standard blight process. Section 242-18D(2) sets the operational trigger: if a child under six resides at the property and there are deteriorated, flaking or loose paint conditions, the code official collects a dust wipe sample, which is sent to the Director of Health with a condition report. If the lab results exceed safe levels set by the Director of Health under state and federal standards, the Director of Health orders the lead hazard abated.
The chapter's separate exterior-painting rule, § 242-17B, independently requires peeling or chipped paint over 25% of a building's painted surface to be eliminated and repainted, but expressly defers to federal and state lead regulations wherever they conflict with that general repainting standard.
Violations & Fines
Lead-paint violations bypass the chapter's general blight citation track and are referred to the Director of Health for enforcement under state and federal lead standards. Where a dust-wipe sample confirms unsafe lead-dust levels on a property housing a child under six, the Director of Health has authority to order the hazard conditions abated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What lead level triggers Manchester's paint maintenance rule?
Who investigates a lead-paint complaint in Manchester?
When does the code official collect a dust-wipe sample?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manchester
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