Miami, FL Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)
Key Facts
- Covered buildings
- built before Dec. 31, 1950
- Tenant notice deadline
- 3 business days before work
- Required handout
- EPA lead-hazard pamphlet
- Contamination notice
- within 5 business days of results
- Enforcement
- Code Enforcement Board, stop-work orders
Summary
Miami requires landlords doing exterior lead-paint work on buildings built before 1951 to give tenants written notice at least three business days before work starts and hand over the EPA lead-hazard pamphlet.
Where (the responsible party is a landlord, a person or persons in the employ of a landlord, or where a landlord has entered into a contract with a contractor to perform work subject to the requirements of this chapter) work subject to this chapter is to be performed on a residential property occupied by one or more tenants, not less than three business days before the work is to commence, the landlord shall provide written notice to the tenant(s) of the building on which the work is being performed that lead-related work is being performed. This notice shall be in the form of a sign, letter or memorandum, and shall prominently state the following:
"Work is scheduled to be performed on this property starting [date]. This work may or Remove Lead-Based Paint. The persons performing this work are required to follow federal, state and local laws regulating work with Lead-Based Paint. You may obtain information regarding these laws, or report any violation concerning these laws, by calling the City Manager's Office or its designated City Department. The Owner of this property is also required to provide tenants with a copy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pamphlet entitled Protect Your Family From Lead-Based Paint in Your Home."
The city shall make available to the public a form containing this required information in English, Spanish and Creole.
(Ord. No. 12804, § 2, 5-11-06; Ord. No. 14138, § 3, 2-9-23)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 | Ordinance 11000 (Previous Zoning Code): Supplement 22 | Miami 21 (Zoning Code): ?).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 10, Article III of the Miami Code regulates exterior lead-based paint work on buildings and steel structures built before December 31, 1950, which the ordinance presumes contain lead-based paint unless testing proves otherwise. Before disturbing or removing exterior paint, the responsible party must notify the city manager's office of the project. Landlords must also give tenants written notice at least three business days before the work begins, in the form of a sign, letter or memorandum with ordinance-specified language, and must provide the EPA pamphlet 'Protect Your Family From Lead-Based Paint in Your Home' unless already given. If lead-dust or lead-soil testing confirms contamination, owners must notify tenants in writing within five business days of the results.
Violations & Fines
Enforced under City Code §§ 1-13 and 10-25 through the Code Enforcement Board (ch. 2, art. X); the city can also issue stop-work orders under § 10-44 until a certified risk assessor confirms the regulated area is compliant.
Frequently Asked Questions
When must a Miami landlord notify tenants about lead paint work?
Which buildings does Miami's lead paint ordinance cover?
What must the tenant notice include?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miami to another location·View the Florida building safety overview
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