Lead-Based Paint Hazard Management Programs

Lead-based paint hazards arise from three sources: lead-based paint in poor condition, lead-contaminated dust, and lead-contaminated soil. The improper disturbance or removal of lead-based paint may result in the production of paint chips and dust which may contaminate a structure inside and out. Young children, under the age of six, are the most vulnerable to the dangers potentially caused by exposure to lead-based paint and associated lead in dust.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Health Hazards Control Unit (HHCU) administers two lead-based paint programs in the state of North Carolina in lieu of EPA: the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Management Program for abatement activities (LHMP) and the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Management Program for Renovation, Repair and Painting (LHMP-RRP). Through these programs, the HHCU provides information to the public and to business and industry about the health hazards of lead-based paint and ways to control or prevent lead poisoning. The HHCU certifies firms and individuals conducting lead-based paint abatement activities and/or renovation activities, accredits training providers and courses, and issues permits for lead-based paint abatement projects that occur in child-occupied facilities and housing built before 1978. The HHCU also inspects lead-based paint abatement projects.

For more information on the management of lead-based paint hazards in North Carolina, contact the Health Hazards Control Unit at (919) 707-5950.

Lead-Requirements for Abatement Activities (LHMP)

In an effort to address the hazards associated with the improper removal of lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards, North Carolina established the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Management Program (LHMP) in 1998.

The LHMP requires a person who performs an inspection, risk assessment, abatement or abatement design work in a child-occupied facility (such as daycares, pre-schools, etc.) or target housing (built before 1978) to be certified and establishes the requirements for certification, including the oversight of required training. It also requires a person who conducts an abatement of a child-occupied facility or target housing to obtain a permit for the abatement.

The LHMP also establishes work practice standards for lead-based paint abatement activities and has adopted the US EPA’s requirements included in 40 CFR Part 745, Subpart L - Lead-Based Paint Activities and 40 CFR Part 745, Subpart D – Identification of Dangerous Levels of Lead (PDF).

More information on the NC LHMP Rules can be found on our Rules and Regulations section.

Lead-Requirements for Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP)

Common renovation activities can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children.

Under the North Carolina Rules (PDF), beginning January 1, 2010, dust sampling technicians, firms, and individuals performing renovation, repair and painting projects for compensation that disturb lead-based paint in homes and child-occupied facilities built before 1978, must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Child-occupied facilities include, but are not limited to, child care facilities and schools with children under the age of 6 years of age that are built before 1978.

To get more information on the specific work practices and other actions required by reference in the North Carolina Rules, go to the EPA rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices (PDF).

Renovation, Repair and Painting Information for Property Owners

The RRP program mandates that contractors, property managers and others working for compensation, in homes and child-occupied facilities built before 1978, must be trained and use lead-safe work practices. They are also required to provide the lead pamphlet "Renovate Right; Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers and Schools" to owners and occupants before starting renovation work.

Property owners have the ultimate responsibility for the safety of their family, tenants, or children in their care. To learn more about lead-safe work practices and actions you can take before beginning work, read EPA's lead hazard information pamphlet, Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF 626K) En Español (PDF 3.2MB).

Renovation, Repair and Painting Information for Tenants and Families of Children under Age 6 in Child-Occupied Facilities

Firms performing renovations must provide a copy of EPA's lead hazard information pamphlet, Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF 626K) En Español (PDF 3.2MB), to homeowners, tenants, and administrators of pre-1978 child care facilities and schools that will be renovated. Renovation information must also be available to the parents or guardians of children under age six that attend child care facilities and schools.

To find certified professionals for abatement or renovation activities select the following link: Search for North Carolina Certified Lead Professionals

Contractors play an important role in helping to prevent lead exposure.  Ordinary renovation and maintenance activities can create dust that contains lead.  By following lead-safe work practices, you can prevent lead hazards.

The RRP program mandates that contractors, property managers and others working for compensation, in homes and child-occupied facilities built before 1978, must be trained and use lead-safe work practices. They are also required to provide the lead pamphlet "Renovate Right; Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers and Schools" to owners and occupants before starting renovation work.

After January 1, 2010, North Carolina requires you and your firm to be certified and to use lead-safe work practices. Read about how to comply by viewing the North Carolina Rules 10A N.C.A.C. 41C .0900 - Lead-Based Paint Hazard Management Program for Renovation, Repair and Painting (PDF) and the associated EPA issued rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices (PDF).

• More information on individual or firm certification
• More information on required training for certification

Certification of Firms and Individuals

A firm engaged in abatement activities must be a certified lead abatement firm. A firm engaged in regulated renovation activities (such as renovation, repair, or painting that disturbs greater than 6 square feet of interior painted surfaces or 20 square feet of exterior painted surfaces or dust sampling after renovation) must be a certified renovation firm. If a firm conducts abatement and renovation activities, then both certifications are required.

Individuals conducting lead-based paint abatement activities in North Carolina, such as inspections, risk assessments, abating lead-based paint hazards, clearance testing, designing abatement projects, etc. in housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978, must be certified by the State of North Carolina.

Individuals must also be certified by the State of North Carolina to perform renovation, repair and painting activities for compensation in housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978. If an individual conducts both abatement and renovation activities, then both certifications are required.

To find certified professionals for either abatement or renovation projects select the following link: Search for North Carolina Certified Lead Professionals

Lead-Based Paint Training for Certification:

Individuals conducting lead-based paint abatement activities (such as, inspections, risk assessments, abating lead-based paint hazards, designing abatement projects, etc.) or renovation activities (such as renovation projects or dust sampling after a renovation) covered by the LHMP-RRP program must be certified by the HHCU. Prior to certification, individuals must receive specific training.

Abatement Activities Training:

To find acceptable training for North Carolina certification as a lead worker, lead supervisor, lead inspector, risk assessor or designer, click on the following document: Training Providers Offering Accredited Lead Abatement Courses in North Carolina (PDF). This file provides a list of accredited lead training providers and courses that the HHCU has accredited for lead-based paint abatement certification purposes.

The HHCU may also accept training from those training providers accredited by either Georgia, Alabama or Mississippi’s state authorized programs through established reciprocity agreements. Because reciprocity agreements are subject to change, it is strongly recommended that you contact the HHCU before taking abatement activity training from any source not included on the North Carolina list. This will ensure the training is acceptable for North Carolina certification.

Renovation, Repair and Painting Training:

To find accredited training taught in North Carolina for renovator or dust sampling technician certification, click on the following document: Training Providers Offering Accredited Lead Renovator or Dust Sampling Technician Courses in North Carolina (PDF).

It is strongly recommended that you contact the HHCU before taking renovation or dust sampling technician training from any source not addressed on the North Carolina list (see link above). This will help to ensure the training is acceptable for North Carolina certification.

The HHCU accepts the following training for renovator or dust sampling technician certification:

Training courses:

1. Taught in locations other than North Carolina and accredited by US EPA or by a state with a US EPA authorized program;
2. Taught in North Carolina and accredited by a state, tribe, or territory that has a written reciprocity agreement with the Program.
3. Taught in North Carolina, other than those covered in numbers (2) and (4) of this paragraph, require North Carolina accreditation
4. Taught in North Carolina prior to August 1, 2010, and accredited by US EPA or by a state with a US EPA authorized program.

For a listing of US EPA accredited training providers for renovation, repair and painting go to the following website: www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/trainingproviders.htm

After July 31, 2010, all training providers and their renovator or dust sampling technician courses taught in North Carolina for certification purposes must be accredited by the HHCU.

Training providers teaching renovator or dust sampling technician courses for certification purposes in North Carolina must comply with N.C. General Statutes §130A-453.12-453.21 – Certification and Accreditation of Lead-Based Paint Renovation Activities (PDF) and 10A N.C.A.C. 41C .0900 - Lead-Based Paint Hazard Management Program for Renovation, Repair and Painting Rules (PDF). Individuals interested in providing training in North Carolina for certification purposes, should contact the HHCU for additional information, forms, and applications.

Rules and Regulations:

Abatement Activities (Lead Inspections, Risk Assessments, Abatements and Project Design):

The LHMP is established under N.C. General Statute §130A-453.01-453.11 - Lead-Based Paint Hazard Management Program.

Rules adopted by the North Carolina Health Commission to implement the statutes may be found under 10A NCAC 41C.0800 - Lead-Based Paint Hazard Management Program.

The North Carolina LHMP Rules adopt the federal regulations relating to lead-based paint activities in child-occupied facilities and target (pre-1978) housing by reference. These regulations may be found at 40 CFR Part 745, Subpart L - Lead-Based Paint Activities and 40 CFR Part 745, Subpart D – Identification of Dangerous Levels of Lead (PDF).

Renovation, Repair and Painting Activities:

The LHMP-RRP is established under N.C. General Statute §130A-453.12-453.21 – Certification and Accreditation of Lead-Based Paint Renovation Activities (PDF).

Rules adopted by the North Carolina Health Commission to implement the statutes may be found under 10A N.C.A.C. 41C .0900 - Lead-Based Paint Hazard Management Program for Renovation, Repair and Painting (LHMP-RRP) (PDF).

The North Carolina LHMP-RRP Rules adopt the federal regulations relating to lead-based paint renovation activities in child-occupied facilities and target (pre-1978) housing by reference. These regulations may be found at 40 CFR Part 745, Subpart L - Lead-Based Paint Activities and 40 CFR Part 745, Subpart E – Residential Property Renovation (PDF).

Note: The statutes, rules, and regulations cited here are unofficial copies of the actual documents, and are provided solely for the sake of convenience. The official versions are available at the following locations:
N.C. General Statutes
N.C. Administrative Code (Rules)

Federal Register/Code of Federal Regulations

Guidance Documents*

• Guidance for Lead-Based Paint Abatement Work Practices (PDF)
• Lead Update 2002 (PDF)
• Guidance for Writing an Occupant Protection Plan (PDF)

*Some resources are in a PDF format to make reading and printing easier. You may need to download the latest version of the free Adobe Reader software to access them. For copies of these documents, contact Health Hazards Control at (919) 707-5950.

Forms and Applications*

• Application for Lead Inspector, Risk Assessor, Lead Abatement Worker, Lead Abatement Supervisor, and Lead Designer Certification (PDF)
• Solicitud de certificación para trabajador de plomo (PDF)
• Application for Lead Abatement Firm Certification (PDF)
• Lead-Based Paint Activity Summary (PDF)
• North Carolina Lead-Based Paint Abatement Permit Application (PDF)
• Revision for Lead-Based Paint Abatement Permit (PDF)
• Application for Lead Renovation Firm Certification (PDF)
• Application for Lead Renovator Certification (PDF)
• Application for Lead Dust Sampling Technician Certification (PDF)

Individuals interested in providing training in North Carolina for certification purposes, should contact the HHCU for additional information, forms, and applications.

*Some resources are in a PDF format to make reading and printing easier. You may need to download the latest version of the free Adobe Reader software to access them. For copies of these documents, contact Health Hazards Control at (919) 707-5950.

More Information

Additional information relating to lead-based paint hazards may be found at the following web locations:

• American Industrial Hygiene Association
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
• National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health
• North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Health Services
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• U.S. Department of Labor - Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)