Lead Safety
Lead Safety & Conformance for Rental Properties
The Rhode Island Lead Hazard Mitigation Law of 2002 requires owners of rental properties built before 1978 to have a Certificate of Lead Conformance (CLC). Historic properties are not exempt from this requirement. Recently, in an effort to protect the health and safety of Rhode Islanders, state lead paint laws were expanded to include a registry of rental properties with lead paint. Read the full lead safety legislation (2023).
Landlords who rent one or more units are required to secure a CLC from a licensed lead inspector and register their rental properties on the Rhode Island Rental Registry annually. Certificates of Lead Conformance are good for two years.
Tearing out historic fabric (windows, doors, floors, siding, etc) is not necessary to pass a lead inspection and register your property. If you have any questions, please contact us -- we can help! If you believe you have received misinformation from a lead inspector or a bad inspection, please report your experience to leadprogram@health.ri.gov.
The Road to Conformance
Newport Restoration Foundation: Preserving Historic Windows While Remediating Lead Hazards What a Homeowner/Landlord Needs to Know, A companion guide to Lead Paint Adaptation and Remediation Strategies for Historic Windows (2025)
RIHPHC: Lead Conformance & Safety, Explained for Historic Homeowners and Landlords (2025)
RIHPHC, RI Housing Resources Commission, Providence Preservation Society Revolving Fund, RI Lead Techs, and RI Housing: The Guide to Lead Safety in Historic Buildings in Rhode Island (2007)
Newport Restoration Foundation: Preserving Historic Windows While Remediating Lead Hazards (2025)
National Park Service: Technical Preservation Brief 37
Licensed lead inspection companies are privately run businesses, and individual practices may vary. Landlords are entitled to have multiple lead inspections conducted at their own expense.
Rhode Island is a “Lead-Safe” state. You may encounter an inspector who insists properties must be lead-free, rather than lead-safe, to receive a Certificate of Lead Conformance. This is incorrect. Historic properties are not expected to be lead-free, but are expected to meet safety standards. This booklet contains more guidance.
Inspectors are also split on whether any friction automatically results in a failed test. If a lead inspector refuses to conduct an inspection because a historic property is a presumed FAIL, contact another inspector. Properly treated, historic properties can pass a lead inspection. This booklet contains information about how to properly prepare for an inspection.
If you believe you have received misinformation from a lead inspector or a bad inspection, please report your experience to leadprogram@health.ri.gov.
Lead Guidance for Owner-Occupied Properties
If you live in an owner-occupied, single-family home, recent changes in the lead laws do not affect you. However, you may choose to pursue lead paint mitigation and management on your own, and homeowners need to know how to handle lead paint before you begin work on your building. The vast majority of lead poisoning cases in Rhode Island every year come from workplace or construction site exposure. Lead dust and chips from deteriorated or disturbed paint can create serious health hazards if not handled properly. Lead in water, dust, soil, and paint is hazardous to adults and children, particularly pregnant women and children under six years of age.
Historic buildings can be made lead safe while preserving their significant architectural features and finishes. With simple maintenance, inexpensive materials, and lead-safe renovation techniques, you can ensure the safety, character, and value of your building. Use lead-safe work practices (summarized in the documents above) when you work on your building.