New Jersey Lead Paint Inspection

About Lead Paint

Lead is a heavy metal that is highly toxic to people and especially young children. Lead exposure of any kind is dangerous. When lead is absorbed, it can have damaging and permanent effects on our bodies effecting vital organs like our brain, kidneys, and central nervous system. Lead can also cause irritability, speech issues, learning disabilities, seizures, and possibly death.

Lead-based paints were prevalent in homes built before 1978 for both indoor and outdoor uses. Deteriorating lead-based paint can be identified as peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, or damaged paint and are considered hazardous. When lead-based paint is disturbed as result from deterioration, friction from surfaces being bumped or rubbed against, or home repairs it can produce lead dust which can fall onto uncovered surfaces and objects that people touch.

Are Lead Paint Inspections Required in New Jersey?

Lead paint inspections are required of rental properties that were built before 1978 are to be inspected within 2 years of the effective date of the law (P.L. 2021, c. 182), July 22, 2022, or after tenant turnover, whichever is earlier. After the initial inspection, rental properties are required to be inspected every 3 years, or after tenant turnover, whichever is earlier. Lead-safe certificates are granted to property owners when the dwelling is observed to be free of lead-based paint hazards. Lead-safe certificates are only valid for 2 years. Inspection is not required upon tenant turnover if the property owner has a valid lead-safe certificate.

In New Jersey, lead inspections are conducted as a visual assessment and dust wipe samplings. The lead-based paint inspection methodology is determined by the state according to each individual municipality (skip down to see which inspection methods each town requires). Consult this list to determine which methodology is required for a property in your town.

A visual assessment examines all painted building components looking for deteriorated paint, visible surface dust, debris, or residue. Dust wipe samplings are collected by wiping a surface, including floors, interior windowsills, and other similar surfaces and sent to a lab for analysis.

Who can Inspect for Lead Paint Hazards?

Certified inspectors, risk assessors and sampling technicians can be hired to collect samples. These lead professionals have learned how and where to collect samples, and how to interpret results.

Here at Remedy Inspections, we offer lead inspections where we visually assess and/or collect samples in accordance to the New Jersey Department of Health and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Since we only offer lead dust sampling we consider ourselves an impartial party as we don’t conduct any lead remediation or lead removal.

Which Lead Inspection Method Does My Town Require?

The New Jersey law, P.L.2021, c.182, applies to rental dwellings that are single-family, two-family, and multi-family units built before 1978. The method of inspection varies for each NJ municipality dependent on lead levels found within the sample population.

The searchable chart below was created to assist property owners with the inspection method that is required of rentals located in the respective municipality.

To learn more about the New Jersey law, P.L.2021, c.182 - a comprehensive guide can be found here.

We’ll work closely with you ensuring peace of mind during the inspection process.