The new law passed in July 2019 by the Cleveland City Council requires residential rental units in certain zip codes in Cleveland to obtain Lead-Safe certification. The law seeks to ensure homes are lead-safe for families, especially for young children.
The certification focuses on the residential rental units built before 1978, as the use of lead-based paint for residential use was allowed then. Research has proven that lead poisoning causes anemia, weakness, as well as kidney and brain damage in cases of long-term exposures.
Property owners or landlords need to provide a copy of a clearance examination to Cleveland's Director of Building and Housing. This examination can also be in the form of a lead risk assessment that shows no lead hazards were identified in the unit.
Units are required to be inspected by private and state-certified professionals to obtain clearance or assessment. The certification will be handed in quarterly phases by zip code between March 2021 and March 2023.
The City of Cleveland and nonprofits foundations have raised funding for the Lead Safe Resource Center and the Lead Safe Home Fund to provide financial support to owners.
The city hopes the landlords to be proactive in making their rentals lead-safe. The local government is also striving to ensure children aren't exposed to lead-based dust or peeling paint and get them tested for lead poisoning.
If you are a residential unit owner, you can find more about lead-safe general information, resources, guidelines, and upcoming deadlines for your area zip code on Lead Poisoning Prevention's website: https://leadsafecle.org/