Lead Paint Rules for Remodeling a Pre-1978 Home in California

By ProRock Remodeling · CSLB #1154078 · Updated October 8, 2026

Does the lead paint rule apply to my remodel?

If your home was built before 1978, probably yes. The EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule covers paid work that disturbs paint in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities. Firms doing that work must be EPA-certified, sole proprietors included, and a certified renovator directs the work practices.

In the Bay Area, that is a lot of houses: San Francisco Victorians and Edwardians, 1950s ranches in San Jose and Santa Clara, and nearly every Eichler. If your house remembers when Highway 101 had less traffic, it is worth assuming there is lead paint under the newer coats.

Homeowners working on their own home are generally not covered by the RRP Rule. It does apply if you rent out all or part of the home, run a child care center there, or renovate homes to sell for profit. The EPA still recommends hiring a lead-safe certified contractor for this kind of work.

What is the Pre-Renovation Education Rule?

Before work starts, your contractor must give you the EPA pamphlet The Lead-Safe Certified Guide to Renovate Right. According to the EPA's 2026 compliance guide:

• If the pamphlet is hand-delivered, work must begin within 60 days of delivery, and you will be asked to sign an acknowledgment.
• If it is mailed, it must be sent at least 7 days before work starts, with a certificate of mailing.
• The contractor keeps these records for 3 years.

When does the 6 square foot exemption apply?

Small repairs are exempt: disturbing 6 square feet or less of paint per room inside, or 20 square feet or less outside. The exemption does not cover window replacement, demolition or work that uses prohibited practices, no matter how small. Non-emergency jobs in the same room within 30 days count as one job.

A kitchen or bathroom remodel almost always goes past 6 square feet.

What do the federal and California rules each require?

What does California's Title 17 add?

California's lead rules live in Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations. Section 36050 says anyone conducting lead activities must use containment, leave the work area with no visible dust or debris, and show compliance to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) or the local enforcement agency on request.

CDPH runs a separate Lead-Related Construction certification. It covers Inspector/Assessors, Sampling Technicians, Project Monitors, Supervisors and Workers. State law requires CDPH certification for paid lead inspections, risk assessments and clearance inspections, and for abatement work meant to remove or permanently reduce lead hazards. A typical remodel is covered by EPA RRP certification. If your project includes lead testing or abatement, ask to see the CDPH certificates too.

San Francisco adds its own layer. DBI's lead work rules for pre-1979 buildings call for notice to affected parties at least 3 days before work starts and a "DBI Lead Work in Progress" sign on site.

What lead-safe work practices should I see?

• Containment. Inside, ducts closed and covered, doors covered with plastic and floors covered at least 6 feet beyond the work.
• No prohibited practices. No open-flame burning, no heat guns above 1100°F, and no power sanding or grinding unless the tool has a shroud and HEPA vacuum attachment.
• Cleaning verification. At the end, a certified renovator wipes floors, counters and sills and compares the cloth to an EPA verification card.

What should homeowners ask before work starts?

1. Ask for the firm's EPA certification and the name of the certified renovator assigned to your job.
2. Check the contractor's state license too. Here's how to verify a California license.
3. Decide whether to test. Testing is optional. Under Title 17, paint in a pre-1978 home is presumed lead-based unless testing shows otherwise.
4. Plan where kids and pregnant family members will be. Our guide to living through a remodel covers the logistics.
5. Ask for a copy of the compliance records when the job wraps up.

Lead paint is one of several older-home surprises. Our guide to hidden issues in older Bay Area homes covers asbestos, old wiring and galvanized pipes.

Working with ProRock in the Bay Area

ProRock Remodeling is a licensed general contractor (California CSLB #1154078) with more than 20 years in business, $1M general liability insurance and a 2-year workmanship warranty. We focus on kitchen and bathroom remodels, and also handle whole-home remodels, ADUs, design and permits, from San Jose to San Francisco. Call (408) 991-4744 or request a free estimate.