Pittsburgh, PA Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Rentals built before 1978
- Trigger
- Section 781.04 rental inspection
- Sampling
- Dust wipes in 4+ rooms
- Re-inspection window
- 30 days after citation
- Retaliation presumption
- Eviction within 90 days
Summary
Pittsburgh requires lead hazard inspections for rental housing built before 1978, covering bare soil, deteriorated paint, and certified dust-wipe sampling, with mandatory remediation and re-inspection by Permits, Licenses and Inspections.
This Section shall apply to any buildings, or portion of a building, that was built before January 1, 1978 and is used as a residential rental dwelling. All elements of any inspection required hereunder shall be performed in accordance with applicable state and federal law.
(b) Inspections for Lead-Based Paint Hazards. Inspections conducted pursuant to Section 781.04 of the City Code by the Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspection of a building, or a portion of a building, built before January 1, 1978 and used as a residential rental dwelling shall include:
(1) A visual assessment for bare soil on the lot(s) upon which the building or relevant portion thereof is situated;
(2) A visual assessment for deteriorated paint surfaces in the interior, exterior and common areas of the building or relevant portion thereof;
(3) Lead dust wipe sampling inside of any dwelling, which shall include, at minimum, the following elements:
(A) Dust wipe samples shall be taken on floors and windowsills/window troughs that have a paint history in at least four (4) rooms, including the entryway/entry room, not less than one (1) bedroom, and the living room;
(B) Dust samples shall be collected by persons authorized and/or certified by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency as a lead inspector, risk assessor, dust wipe technician or lead sampling technician;
(C)
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 782.01, any residential rental building (or portion of one) built before January 1, 1978 must be checked for lead hazards when the Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections conducts its Section 781.04 rental registration inspection. Inspectors assess bare soil and deteriorated paint and collect EPA-certified dust-wipe samples from floors and windowsills in at least four rooms, including a bedroom and the living room. Any hazard found must be remedied by the owner using certified lead professionals, and the Department re-inspects within 30 days of the citation or of the owner's remediation certification, repeating as needed until the hazard is cleared. City residents can also request a free lead inspection directly. Evicting a tenant within 90 days of a lead inspection triggers a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation.
Violations & Fines
Enforced under Title 10's Building Code enforcement provisions (§ 1001.10 of the City Code); a hazard that isn't fixed triggers repeat re-inspection until corrected, and evicting a tenant within 90 days of a lead inspection is presumed unlawful retaliation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Pittsburgh's lead-paint rule cover owner-occupied homes?
Can a Pittsburgh landlord evict a tenant after a lead inspection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pittsburgh
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