Sacramento, CA Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Sacramento City Code Ch. 8.100, Housing Code
- Trigger provision
- § 8.100.560(P) lead hazards
- State threshold cited
- Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17920.10
- Enforcing official
- Chief building official, § 8.100.070
- Criminal penalty
- Misdemeanor per day of violation
- Civil penalty range
- $250 to $25,000 per day
- Cure period
- 30 days from notice and order
Summary
Sacramento's Housing Code lists "presence of lead hazards" as one of the conditions that makes a building substandard, triggering code enforcement. The definition covers deteriorated lead-based paint, lead-contaminated dust and soil, and paint disturbed without containment above state-set thresholds, and it plugs directly into the city's substandard-building notice, hearing and penalty scheme.
P. Presence of lead hazards. "Lead hazards" means deteriorated lead-based paint, lead-contaminated dust, lead-contaminated soil, or disturbing lead-based paint without containment, if one or more of these hazards is present in one or more locations in amounts that are equal to or exceed the amounts of lead established for these terms in Section 17920.10 of the California Health and Safety Code or Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 35001) of Division 1 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations, or any successors thereto, and that are likely to endanger the health of the public or the occupants as a result of their proximity to the public or the occupants.
Full Breakdown
100 of the Sacramento City Code is the city's Housing Code, and Article X of that chapter defines "substandard building" conditions that any dwelling unit, guest room, hotel or premises can be cited for. 10 or the parallel state regulations at Title 17, Division 1, Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 35001) of the California Code of Regulations, and the hazard is likely to endanger the health of the public or occupants because of its proximity to them. 110 and is abated by repair, rehabilitation, demolition, board-up, fencing or removal. 100. 840 and following), which can include posting the building and, ultimately, entering to abate.
Violations & Fines
Violating Chapter 8.100, including maintaining a building with an unabated lead hazard, is a misdemeanor for each day the violation continues under Section 8.100.170(A), with civil penalties of not less than $250 nor more than $25,000 per day, recoverable by the city attorney in a civil action. The city may instead or additionally impose administrative penalties under Chapter 1.28. Section 8.100.170(C) gives owners a 30-day cure period from service of the notice and order before an administrative penalty is imposed, except where there is an immediate danger to health or safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a Sacramento building have a lead hazard under the code?
Who investigates a lead hazard complaint in Sacramento?
What happens if an owner does not fix a cited lead hazard?
Can an owner appeal a lead-hazard notice and order?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento to another location·View the California building safety overview
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Lead Paint in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sacramento County handle lead paint.