Richmond, VA Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)
Key Facts
- Covered housing
- Any dwelling built before 1978 ("target housing")
- Lead-paint threshold
- 1.0 mg/cm² or 0.5% by weight
- Risk assessment fee
- $350.00
- Clearance testing fee
- $225.00
- Abatement window
- 30 days, extendable to 90 days max
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, fine up to $2,500.00 per day
Summary
Richmond City Code makes owners of pre-1978 dwellings and child-occupied facilities responsible for keeping painted surfaces free of peeling, chipping, cracking or flaking paint once lead hazards are confirmed, or removing or covering the leaded areas in a manner the City approves. The District Health Department enforces the duty through risk assessments, notices of violation, and reinspection deadlines.
The owner of a dwelling unit where the interior or exterior painted surfaces of the dwelling unit, including fences and outbuildings, contain hazardous lead levels or constitute a lead-based paint hazard shall maintain that property in a condition free from peeling, chipping, cracking and flaking paint or shall remove or cover all leaded areas in a manner approved by the City.(b)Child-occupied facility. Any owner of a child-occupied facility shall have that child-occupied facility inspected annually at the owner's sole expense if a child frequenting the child-occupied facility tests positive for childhood lead poisoning. If the interior or exterior painted surfaces of the child-occupied facility, including fences and outbuildings, contain hazardous lead levels or constitute a lead-based paint hazard, then the owner shall maintain that property in a condition free from peeling, chipping, cracking and flaking paint or by removing or shall remove or cover all leaded areas in a manner approved by the City. These annual inspections shall continue as long as the property remains a child-occupied facility. (Code 1993, § 14-69; Code 2004, § 54-130; Code 2015, § 15-105; Code 2020, § 15-105; Ord. No. 2005-157-151, § 1, 7-25-2005)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Recodification).
Full Breakdown
Article IV of Chapter 15 covers "target housing," meaning any residence built before 1978 (except elderly or disability housing unless a child six or under lives there). 5 percent by weight. Under Sec. 15-103 and Sec. 15-104, the District Health Department performs a lead risk assessment when a child or pregnant woman with an elevated blood-lead level resides in a pre-1978 unit, or when a City employee has reasonable suspicion of a hazard; a resident or owner may also request one. 00. If the assessment finds a hazard, the City issues a notice of violation giving the owner 30 days to apply interim controls (allowed only if the residence is owner-occupied and the owner completes lead-safe work practice training) or to complete abatement through a licensed lead abatement contractor.
The City may grant more time at its discretion, but the total period to reduce exposure cannot exceed 90 days after the owner receives the notice. The City must reinspect within ten working days after that 90-day period, issuing a compliance letter if the hazard is remedied or a criminal summons if it is not. Sec. 15-106 requires the City to notify an owner of a confirmed hazard within five days of inspection, and requires the District Health Department to notify a dwelling's occupants within five days if a resident child tests positive for lead exposure.
Violations & Fines
Violating the removal or covering requirements of this article is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $2,500.00 under Sec. 15-107. If a court sets an abatement deadline and the hazard remains after that date, each additional day counts as a separate violation. A landlord who shows the court it cannot afford abatement can have the court order the affected rental agreement terminated, effective 30 days after the order, rather than face continued fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old does a Richmond property have to be to fall under the lead-paint rules?
How much does a City lead risk assessment cost in Richmond?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Richmond
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