Raleigh, NC Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)

North Carolina has not preempted the federal Lead RRP program, so Raleigh properties are subject to federal certification and the NC Lead-Based Paint Hazard Management Program administered by NCDHHS. Any renovation disturbing more than six square feet of interior painted surface or 20 square feet of exterior painted surface in a home, childcare facility, or school built before 1978 triggers RRP requirements. Contractors must hold a current EPA Firm Certification and assign a Certified Renovator to each job site, who is responsible for containing dust with plastic sheeting, using HEPA vacuums, wet cleaning, and performing a post-renovation cleaning verification. Historic neighborhoods like Oakwood, Boylan Heights, Cameron Park, and Five Points contain many pre-1978 structures, making RRP compliance central to renovation work. Raleigh Code Enforcement and the Wake County Health Department investigate complaints of peeling paint on rental properties where children under age six reside, and landlords must remediate identified hazards. Disclosure under the federal Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act is required for sales and leases of pre-1978 housing. Abatement projects, distinct from renovation, require a licensed NC lead abatement contractor and air clearance testing.