San Francisco, CA Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Inspection finds lead hazard, §1626
- Standard deadline
- 14 days to substantially complete
- Extended deadline
- 30 days if permits/contractors needed
- Inspection fee
- $85 per hour of DPH staff time
- Max civil penalty
- $500 per day of noncompliance
Summary
San Francisco's Health Department declares any inspected dwelling unit with lead hazards a nuisance and can order the owner to remediate within 14 to 30 days.
All dwelling units or nonresidential premises which have been inspected pursuant to Section 1626, and which contain lead hazards as determined by the Director, are hereby declared to be and are nuisances... Any lead hazard remediation technique which the Director determines necessary to eliminate lead hazards must be substantially completed within 14 days of the effective date of the order, except that activities which require the owner or manager to obtain permits and/or contractors, must be substantially completed within 30 days.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-96: Codes: last updated to include changes made by legislation through Ordinance 133-26, File No. 260686, approved July 23, 2026, effective August 23, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under Health Code Article 26 Section 1628, any dwelling unit inspected under Section 1626 and found to contain lead hazards is declared a nuisance. The Director's abatement order must include a remediation schedule, and work the Director deems necessary must be substantially completed within 14 days, or 30 days if permits or contractors are required. Orders can require vacating the unit, must warn owners about loss of state tax deductions for uncorrected substandard housing, and owners pay an $85-per-hour inspection and administrative fee plus equipment, lab, and tenant relocation costs.
Violations & Fines
Failure to comply risks civil penalties up to $500 per day (Sec. 1637(a)) or administrative penalties of $100/$200/$500 per day for first, second, and later violations within a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if San Francisco inspectors find lead hazards in a rental unit?
Can San Francisco force tenants out during lead abatement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Francisco
California rules heatmap·Compare San Francisco to another location·View the California building safety overview
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