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Manchester, NH Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section: Code of Ordinances § 150.069
Core rule: no loose or flaking paint allowed
Paint-removal notice: 3 days to Health Dept, § 91.21
First-offense fine: $50 within 7 days
Oversight body: Lead Exposure Prevention Commission (2023)

Summary

Manchester's Housing Code requires every dwelling surface be free of loose or flaking paint, and any newly applied paint must meet federal lead-safety standards, under Code of Ordinances § 150.069.

All interior and exterior surfaces of dwellings, dwelling units, and rooming units shall be free of loose or flaking paint. All newly applied paint must meet the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Standards as being safe in accordance with the provisions of the Board of Health Department.

Source: NH DHHS Healthy HomesView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-25: current through Ord. passed 6-3-2025).

Full Breakdown

Manchester's Housing Code, Chapter 150, treats loose or flaking paint as a code violation in every dwelling, dwelling unit, and rooming unit citywide, not just pre-1978 housing, and any repainting must use paint meeting U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission lead-safety limits. The city backs this up in Chapter 91: anyone doing abrasive paint removal must test the paint for lead and give the Health Department and abutters three days' written notice before starting, under § 91.21. A 12-member Lead Exposure Prevention Commission, created in 2023, now reviews and recommends housing-code amendments to tighten lead rules further.

Violations & Fines

Loose or flaking paint violates Housing Code § 150.069; abrasive removal without prior lead testing and three-day notice violates § 91.21. Default fine: $50 first offense (within 7 days), $100 second, $200 third, doubling if unpaid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Manchester require lead paint testing before renovations?

Yes: abrasive paint removal projects must test the paint for lead and give the Health Department and abutting property owners three days' written notice before work starts, per § 91.21.

What counts as a lead paint violation in a Manchester rental?

Any loose or flaking paint on interior or exterior surfaces violates § 150.069 of the Housing Code, regardless of the building's age or when it was last painted.

What happens if a landlord ignores a citation?

The fine doubles if unpaid within seven days, up to $400 by a third offense, under the city's general citation schedule, § 38.06(B).

Sources & Official References

[1]Manchester, NH Code of Ordinances (amlegal)

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