Maplewood

Maplewood Lead Paint Inspections

This notice is to advise owners of rental dwelling units within Maplewood Township of the requirements newly adopted under the New Jersey Lead Safe Certification Law, P.L.2021, c.182, and the corresponding regulations codified under N.J.A.C. 5:28A-1 et seq.

This new law requires certain rental units built before 1978 to have a visual inspection/analysis performed to identify any lead hazards, either at the next tenant turnover or by July 31, 2024, whichever occurs first.

After the initial inspection, all units shall be inspected for lead-based paint hazards every three years, or upon tenant turnover, whichever is earlier. An inspection upon tenant turnover is not required if the owner has a valid lead-safe certificate. Lead-safe certificates are valid for two years. If the lead-safe certificate has expired, and there will be a tenant turnover, an inspection will be necessary before the three-year inspection.

Learn more about the new regulation from the Department of Community Affairs website.

Preparing For Visual Inspections

Visual inspections for lead based paint hazards simply means that our NJ DCA certified inspectors will come to your property and visually assess for signs of paint chipping and deterioration.

If no deteriorated conditions are found, then a Lead Safe certification will be issued. Lead Safe certificates are good for 3 years unless there is a tenant turnover after 2 years. If deteriorated paint conditions are noted and the house is built pre-1978 then the presumption is that a lead hazard exists. In that case, remediation or abatement may be required.

• Our inspectors will need access to the interior of the rental unit. This includes any area of the home that the tenant can access such as hallways, basements and shared laundry rooms. If the inspector cannot access ALL areas that a tenant can access, such as utility closets, laundry rooms, etc then the inspection will not be completed.

• Exterior areas such as porches are not part of the inspection.

• The inspector will look for paint chips or dust from painting activities that were not cleaned up and paint residue on floors.

• Visible paint chips, dust and paint residue on floor will result in a failing grade for the visual inspection.

• Any deterioration greater in size than a nail hole or larger than hairline crack will result in failing the visual inspection. Click here to see examples of deteriorated paint from our NJ DCA Certified Lead Evaluation Contractors.

• The inspection report will be sent to the property owner 10 days after the inspection is complete. Reports can be expedited for an additional fee.