If you rent out an older home in Philadelphia, lead-paint compliance is one of the requirements most likely to catch you off guard. The City requires many rental properties to show they are lead-safe (or lead-free), certified by a certified lead professional, as a condition of renting. Here's a plain-English overview of how it works, where to confirm the details for your property, and how it fits with the Rental License that our rental license service handles.
What's on this page
What lead-safe certification is
Lead-based paint was common in homes built before 1978, and it remains a serious health hazard, especially for young children. To protect tenants, Philadelphia requires all rental properties built before March 1978 (even if renovated) to demonstrate that they are either lead-free (no lead-based paint present) or lead-safe (any lead-based paint is intact and not a hazard), verified by an EPA-certified lead dust sampling technician or a PA-certified risk assessor. A lead-safe certificate is valid for four years; a lead-free certificate does not expire. The landlord keeps it and gives the tenant a copy as part of the leasing process, for existing and any new tenants.
Who it generally applies to
The requirement is based on the age of the building (according to City of Philadelphia records) and applies to residential rentals. Specifically, any property built before March 1978, which represents most of Philadelphia's rental properties, falls under the "Lead Law." The Lead Law was set by City ordinance (originally in 2012, amended in 2020) and has expanded over time, so the safest approach is to assume your rental property requires a lead certification. The program is administered by the Public Health Department.
If your property was built after February 1978, there is still a requirement to complete the necessary paperwork with the Public Health Department to obtain an exemption.
How a property gets certified
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Use a certified lead professional
Testing must be done by an EPA-certified lead dust sampling technician or a PA-certified risk assessor; a store-bought test kit doesn't count, and only a PA-certified lead inspector or risk assessor can issue a lead-free certificate. They evaluate the property for lead-based paint and lead hazards.
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Address any hazards found
If the inspection identifies lead hazards exceeding the EPA allowable ranges as adopted by the City of Philadelphia, remediation is required and the property must be re-tested so it can be certified lead-safe.
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File and keep the certification
The certificate and test results must be submitted to the Public Health Department through the City's Lead Certification Submission System, a copy given to the tenant when the lease is signed, and a lead-safe certificate renewed every 4 years. It can be transferred from one tenant to another (if a tenant turns over during the 4-year period) and also transfers with the property if it is sold (from seller to buyer).
How it ties to your rental license
Lead compliance doesn't stand alone. It sits alongside the rest of your Philadelphia licensing obligations. To legally rent, you need a valid Rental License (built on your Business Tax Account and, for most landlords, a Commercial Activity License), a Certificate of Rental Suitability for each new tenant, and to be current on city taxes and clear of open code violations. Lead-safe certification is part of operating a compliant, legally rentable property where it applies.
Getting compliant across the board?
If you're sorting out your rental license, taxes, and the rest of Philadelphia's compliance maze, we can map exactly what your property needs and handle the licensing chain with the City, so you're cleared to operate.
Map my compliance → Call (215) 402-6882The cost of non-compliance
Failing to meet Philadelphia's lead requirements can expose a landlord to fines and enforcement, and, like other compliance gaps, can undermine your standing if you ever need to enforce an eviction. Beyond the legal exposure, the underlying risk is real: lead hazards can seriously harm tenants, especially children. Compliance protects them and you.
Common questions
Does every Philadelphia rental need a lead certificate?
The requirement is based on age (built before March 1978) and applies only to residential rentals. Even a renovated property still needs a lead certification. If your property has both residential and commercial space (like a storefront), only the residential dwellings need to be certified. For a multi-unit property, each residential unit is tested and reported separately: a duplex needs 2 lead certifications, a triplex needs 3. Any property built after February 1978 still requires an exemption filed with the Public Health Department.
Can I certify the property myself?
Only if you hold the certification yourself. The City allows a landlord or their staff to do the inspection and dust wipe test, but the person testing must be an EPA-certified lead dust sampling technician or a PA-certified risk assessor, and store-bought test kits don't count.
How does this fit with my rental license?
It's part of the same compliance picture. You still need your Business Tax Account, Commercial Activity License (where required), Rental License, and a Certificate of Rental Suitability for each new tenant. Lead compliance sits alongside those.
Can you help me get compliant?
We handle the licensing and city-tax side of Philadelphia compliance (the Business Tax Account, Commercial Activity License, Rental License, and Certificate of Rental Suitability) and can point you to what your property needs on the lead side. Start with a free review and we'll map it out.