Tarrant County Building Safety: Lead Paint Rules (2026)

Lead-based paint in housing built before 1978 is regulated primarily by federal law, with Texas state enforcement. The EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule under 40 CFR Part 745 requires that contractors performing renovation work disturbing more than 6 square feet of interior paint or 20 square feet of exterior paint in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities be RRP-certified. Contractors must follow lead-safe work practices: contain the work area, minimize dust, and clean up properly using HEPA vacuums and wet wiping. Owner-occupants may perform their own work but are still responsible for cleanup if the home contains children under 6 or pregnant women. The federal Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act requires that sellers and landlords of pre-1978 housing disclose known lead hazards, provide the EPA pamphlet Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home, and give buyers a 10-day inspection opportunity. In Texas, the Texas Department of State Health Services Lead Program administers certification of lead abatement workers and firms under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1955 and 25 TAC Chapter 295. Abatement (as distinct from RRP renovation) is lead-hazard reduction designed to permanently eliminate lead hazards and must be performed by a state-certified firm. Tarrant County Public Health does not have a separate lead program; enforcement is federal and state.