New Haven, CT Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)
Key Facts
- Covered surfaces
- All interior/exterior dwelling surfaces
- Enforcer
- Director of Public Health
- Maintenance rule
- Surfaces kept defect-free
- Remedy of last resort
- Family relocation, owner pays
Summary
New Haven prohibits using lead-based paint on any interior or exterior surface of a dwelling, and requires walls, doors, windows, stairs and porches be kept free of peeling, chipping or flaking paint.
Lead-based paint, as defined in this article, shall not be used on any exterior surface or any wall, ceiling, floor, interior woodwork, nor on or around the interior or exterior surface of any door, window, fixture, stairs, railing or porch on any dwelling, or dwelling unit, or any building intended or used, in whole or part, for human habitation or occupancy.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31 | Zoning: Supplement 32).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 16, Article III bars applying lead-based paint, defined by weight or on-site X-ray fluorescence thresholds set by the state, to any wall, ceiling, floor, woodwork, door, window, fixture, stair, railing or porch of a dwelling. Owners must keep those surfaces intact and free of defects. When a child's blood lead level becomes actionable, the director of public health can inspect the property, order abatement or covering of the lead paint, and require relocation of the family at the owner's expense if the hazard is not fixed within a reasonable time.
Violations & Fines
Violating the article is punishable by a fine or civil penalty up to the Code's maximum, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense, and the health director can seek an administrative search warrant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lead paint banned in New Haven homes?
Who enforces lead-paint violations in New Haven?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Haven
Compare New Haven to another location·View the Connecticut building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.