Norristown Lead Testing & Lead Safe Certification

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Norristown Lead Testing for Rental Properties

Hellas Environmental Testing provides professional lead dust wipe testing for Norristown landlords and property managers to help meet local lead safety requirements.

Lead Safe Certification in Norristown

Need a Lead Safe Certificate for a Norristown rental property? We provide convenient scheduling, professional dust wipe sampling, accredited laboratory analysis, and the documentation needed for certification.

Does the lead hazard control ordinance apply to me?  

The Norristown Lead Poisoning Prevention & Lead Hazard Control Ordinance applies to any landlord who rents a property in Norristown that was built before 1978. Beginning January 1, 2022, rental units will need to be certified as lead-free or possess a lead-safe certificate for Norristown.  

What is the purpose of the ordinance?  

The purpose of the ordinance is to prevent Norristown children from becoming lead poisoned and to ensure they live in lead-free or lead-safe housing by requiring landlords to certify properties as either lead safe or lead free.  

Despite years of progress, significant numbers of children in Norristown continue to suffer from irreparable harm due to lead poisoning from deteriorated lead paint and lead dust in their homes each year.  

How does this ordinance differ from existing code requirements?  

The Norristown Building Safety, Property Maintenance, & Housing Code already mandates that landlords correct any peeling paint, cracked or loose plaster, decayed wood, and other defective surface conditions in a rental unit. Norristown’s Lead Poisoning Prevention and Lead Hazard Control requires landlords to certify that their property is lead-free or lead-safe.  

What does the ordinance require?  

Landlords must have their rental property inspected for lead paint/dust and obtain a Lead-Free Certificate or a lead-safe certificate for their rental property. All rental properties in Norristown are required to be inspected and certified as lead free or lead safe, regardless of whether a child resides in the property. New rental properties must be inspected and certified as lead free or lead safe before a rental license is issued, while all existing properties must be inspected and certified prior to renewing their rental license.  

The landlord is required to send a copy of the lead-free certificate along with the XRF testing results/inspection report or a copy of the lead-safe certificate along with the dust wipe sample test results to the Department of Buildings & Code Compliance.  

What does it mean to be lead-free under this ordinance?  

A property is considered lead-free when it has been inspected and certified by a licensed Pennsylvania Lead Inspector/Risk Assessor, confirming that it does not have any lead-based paint based on EPA/HUD standards. Once certified lead-free, this designation remains valid indefinitely unless the Lead-Free Certification is rescinded or invalidated. The designation is transferrable to the next property owner.  

What does it mean if a property is certified as lead-safe under this ordinance?  

A property that is certified as lead-safe has been determined by a Licensed Pennsylvania Lead Inspector/Risk Assessor or an EPA Certified Lead Dust Sampling Technician to be free of deteriorated, flaking, chipping, peeling, chalking, or not-intact paint. Interior dust samples must also be collected, tested, and found not to contain hazardous levels of lead-contaminated dust according to EPA/HUD regulations. Lead-Safe Certificates are valid for three years.  

Who can complete a lead-free certificate?  

A Licensed Pennsylvania Lead Inspector/Risk Assessor.  

Who can complete a lead-safe certificate?  

Licensed Pennsylvania Lead Inspector/Risk Assessor  

Certified EPA Lead Dust Sampling Technician  

When does this ordinance start?  

Ordinance 21-14 was adopted by Norristown Council on November 16, 2021, and enforcement of the ordinance begins January 1, 2022.  

What should I do to comply with the ordinance?  

Obtain a Lead-Free Certificate from a Licensed Pennsylvania Lead Inspector/Risk Assessor. To find or verify the license of a Pennsylvania Lead Inspector/Risk Assessor, visit the Lead Occupations webpage of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry: https://www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Labor-Management- Relations/bois/Pages/Lead-Occupations.aspx.  OR  

Obtain a Lead-Safe Certificate from a Licensed Pennsylvania Lead Inspector/Risk Assessor or from an EPA Certified Lead Dust Sampling Technician. To find and confirm the certification of an EPA Dust Sampling Technician, please visit the EPA Locate Certified Lead Dust Sampling Technician Firms webpage: https://cfpub.epa.gov/flpp/pub/index.cfm?do=main.firmSearch.  Links  Lead-Free Certificate  Lead Safe Certificate  Find/Verify PA Lead Inspector - Risk Assessor  Find/Verify EPA Certified Lead Dust Sampling Technician  What do I need to do to demonstrate compliance with the ordinance?  

• Submit to the Department of Buildings & Code Compliance a copy of the lead-free certificate along with the XRF testing results/inspection report or a copy of the lead-safe certificate along with the dust wipe sample test results.  

You may email the documents to leadcert@norristown.org, or submit them in person or by mail.  

How does this ordinance affect my rental license?  

All new rental properties must be inspected and certified as lead free or lead safe before the issuance of a new rental license, and all existing rental properties must receive this certification prior to renewing their rental license. Non-compliance will prevent obtaining a new rental license or renewing an existing one.  

What happens if my property does not pass a visual inspection and/or dust wipe clearance?  

If your rental property does not pass either the visual inspection or dust wipe clearance, you must repair the property to pass clearance before a tenant can move in.  

What do I need to know about repairing the property?  

If your rental property fails the visual inspection or dust wipe clearance, repairs must be made for it to meet clearance standards. The Federal EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Law mandates that all landlords, property managers, realtors, and contractors engaged in renovation, repair, and/or painting work in homes and residential buildings built prior to 1978 must be certified, use trained workers, and adhere to specific regulations to prevent lead contamination.  

Visit the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Law website for more information tailored to:  

Consumers  

Renters  

Operators of Child Care Facilities  

Property Managers  

Do-It-Yourselfers  

Real Estate Agents  

When lead-based paint is disturbed during renovation, repair, or painting activities, dangerous amounts of lead dust can be generated. Demolition, window replacement, and opening up walls can also release accumulated lead dust into the home, which may persist even after standard renovation cleanup.  

If the landlord undertakes their own repair work or employs their own staff, they must be an EPA Certified RRP firm and use only trained and certified workers. If a contractor is hired, certification is not needed from the landlord but is required from the contractor.  

Ensure that external parties engaged for these tasks are certified and follow lead-safe work practices. When performing work on an occupied property, contractors must distribute a pamphlet titled The Lead-Safe Certified Guide to Renovate Right and obtain a signed receipt from the occupants prior to starting.  

After the property meets visual and dust wipe clearance standards, the Licensed PA Lead Inspector/Risk Assessor or the EPA Certified Dust Sample Technician should complete and submit the lead-safe certificate.  

Links  

EPA Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program  The Lead-Safe Certified Guide to Renovate Right  

What should I do if a tenant reports deteriorated paint? The landlord must promptly inspect and correct any defective conditions, including repairing deteriorated paint, all in compliance with the EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) law.  

What are the penalties for non-compliance with this ordinance?  

A landlord found to be non-compliant may face fines under the Municipal Code, including potential denial of a new rental license or the renewal of an existing one.  

What responsibilities do tenants have under this ordinance?  

Tenants must provide reasonable access for landlords to carry out necessary repairs. They are encouraged to report any peeling or chipping paint to landlords and to keep children away from lead paint and dust.    

January 2022    

ALL THIS INFO IS DIRECT FROM NORRISTOWN.ORG WEBSITE