Lead-Safe Inspections
The standard path for landlords on a rental certification cycle. Visual assessment plus dust-wipe sampling determines whether your property is currently free of lead hazards. Required under the NJ Lead Paint Inspection Law and the Philadelphia Lead and Healthy Homes Program.
What a Lead-Safe inspection includes
A Lead-Safe inspection is the standardized methodology required by NJ and Philadelphia rental compliance laws. It establishes whether a property is currently free of lead-based paint hazards — not whether lead paint is absent entirely, but whether any lead present is intact, contained, and not creating a current exposure risk.
Visual assessment
Our NJDCA-licensed inspector documents the condition of every painted surface, interior and exterior. We’re looking for paint that’s deteriorated, peeling, chipping, or showing wear on friction surfaces (window jambs, door frames) and impact surfaces. Photos and findings go in the report.
Dust-wipe sampling
We collect dust samples from windowsills, floors, and other key surfaces using federally specified materials and protocols. Samples go to an accredited laboratory and are analyzed for lead content. If no sample exceeds federal hazard thresholds, the property passes.
Lead-Safe Certificate
If visual findings show no deteriorated lead-based paint AND dust-wipe results are clean, the property is issued a Lead-Safe Certificate. The certificate is then submitted to your jurisdiction’s compliance program (NJDCA for NJ, the Lead and Healthy Homes Program for Philadelphia).
Lead-Safe vs. Lead-Free: Lead-Safe means lead may be present but is not creating a current hazard. Lead-Free means no lead-based paint exists on the property at all. Lead-Safe is faster and cheaper; Lead-Free is one-time and indefinite. See Lead-Free Inspections →
Who needs a Lead-Safe inspection
- NJ landlords of pre-1978 rentals — required every 3 years under the NJ Lead Paint Inspection Law
- Philadelphia landlords of pre-1978 rentals — required for every new or renewed lease and for rental license renewal under the Lead Disclosure & Certification Law
- Property managers with multi-unit portfolios — the most cost-effective way to keep multiple doors compliant
- Landlords who are selling within a few years — the recurring cycle is fine if you’re not holding long-term
- Anyone who needs a faster, less invasive inspection than a comprehensive Lead-Free XRF assessment
How long it’s valid
Lead-Safe certificate validity depends on jurisdiction:
- New Jersey — valid for 3 years. Re-inspection is required at the end of the cycle.
- Philadelphia — valid for 4 years. Re-inspection is required before the certificate expires.
- New York / Delaware — no statewide rental certification cycle, but local jurisdictions (NYC Local Law 1, City of Wilmington) may have their own requirements. We’ll confirm based on your address.
We track your renewal date and remind you 60 days before the certificate expires, so you don’t fall out of compliance.
Get a quote
Inspection scope and pricing depend on property type, size, location, and the number of units. NJ properties also pay a per-unit state fee at the time of inspection (set by law and remitted to the Lead Hazard Control Assistance Fund). Multi-unit and portfolio pricing is available for landlords with multiple properties.
Call (215) 284-0086 or fill out our quote form and we’ll get back to you within one business hour with a fixed quote for your property.
What happens if your property doesn’t pass
If a dust-wipe sample exceeds federal hazard thresholds, the report identifies exactly which surface or area is the source. The standard next steps:
- Lead-safe work practices remediation by an EPA-certified RRP firm to clean up or stabilize the affected surfaces
- Re-inspection with dust-wipe clearance testing to confirm the remediation was successful
- Lead-Safe Certificate issued once the property clears
We don’t perform remediation ourselves, but we can recommend qualified RRP firms in your area and handle the clearance testing once the work is done.
Frequently asked questions
Does Lead-Safe mean there’s no lead paint at all?
No — that would be Lead-Free. Lead-Safe means lead-based paint may be present somewhere on the property, but it’s intact, contained, and not creating a hazard right now. Most pre-1978 homes contain at least some lead paint; Lead-Safe certification confirms it’s not currently dangerous.
How is this different from a Lead-Free inspection?
Lead-Free uses comprehensive XRF analysis to confirm NO lead-based paint exists anywhere. Lead-Safe uses visual assessment plus dust-wipe sampling to confirm no current hazard. Lead-Free is more thorough and one-time; Lead-Safe is faster, cheaper, and renewed on a cycle. See Lead-Free Inspections →
How long does the inspection take?
Most single-family Lead-Safe inspections take 30–45 minutes on-site. Multi-unit properties take longer in proportion to the number of units. Dust-wipe samples then go to a lab; results and your certificate are typically ready 48–72 hours after the inspection.
Do I have to be there for the inspection?
No — someone just needs to provide access. Many landlords coordinate directly with the tenant or a property manager. We can also work with a lockbox or building super.
Does tenant turnover trigger a new inspection in NJ?
No. Under the current NJ Lead Paint Inspection Law, tenant turnover does not trigger a new inspection — only the three-year cycle does. Federal lead disclosure to incoming tenants is still required, but you do not need to schedule a new lead inspection just because a tenant has moved out.
Does my property submit the certificate, or do you?
You (the landlord) submit it. We deliver a certificate and full report formatted to satisfy your jurisdiction’s submission requirements, but the actual upload is done from your landlord account so the record is correctly attributed to your property. In Philadelphia, submission is done through the Lead and Healthy Homes Program portal — we’ll walk you through it.
Behind on your rental certification?
Whether it’s an NJ triennial or a Philadelphia Lead-Safe renewal, we can schedule a NJDCA-licensed inspector within 24 hours and have your certificate ready within the week.
Schedule My Lead-Safe Inspection →