Tacoma owners and contractors must follow federal lead-safe rules and Washington disclosure law for homes built before 1978, including using certified renovators on covered work and providing lead pamphlets to buyers and tenants.
Most lead paint requirements in Tacoma come from federal law and Washington Department of Commerce rules rather than the Tacoma Municipal Code itself. Owners selling or renting pre-1978 housing must disclose known lead-based paint, attach the federal lead pamphlet, and allow buyers a chance to test. Contractors performing painting, window replacement, or larger renovation in covered units must be Lead Renovation Repair and Painting certified by the EPA, use containment, and clean up debris. Tacoma's older neighborhoods near downtown, Hilltop, and the Stadium District have many homes with original lead paint, and code enforcement may flag peeling exterior paint as both a health and property maintenance issue.
Performing covered renovation without certification, failing to provide lead disclosure to tenants and buyers, or ignoring peeling lead paint on older Tacoma homes can result in federal penalties, state fines, and local citations.
See how Tacoma's lead paint rules stack up against other locations.
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