This bill amends existing legislation regarding lead-based paint inspections in rental properties, specifically targeting apartments within buildings of two or three units. It establishes that municipalities must conduct inspections for lead-based paint hazards at tenant turnover or within three years of the law's effective date. However, it removes the requirement for subsequent inspections at tenant turnover or every three years if the property owner has a valid lead-safe certification. Additionally, if an initial inspection identifies a lead-based paint hazard, any reinspection costs will be limited to the scope of the initial inspection that found the hazard.

The bill also clarifies the definitions of key terms related to lead inspections, such as "common area," "dust wipe sampling," and "tenant turnover." It mandates that municipalities charge property owners a fee to cover inspection costs and allows for the direct hiring of certified lead evaluation contractors by landlords. Furthermore, it stipulates that if a lead hazard is found in one unit of a multi-unit building, the remaining units must also be inspected, unless they are certified lead-safe. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the inspection process while ensuring safety from lead-based paint hazards in residential rental properties.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 52:27D-437.16