Short answer: if a Maryland rental was built before 1978, you must register it with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) every year, get a passing lead inspection certificate before each new tenant moves in, and give the tenant the required lead notices. Source: MDE rental owners.
1. Check the build year
The Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing law covers rental units built before 1978. A home built in 1978 or later is outside it. If you are not sure of the year, Maryland’s property records show it.
2. Register with MDE every year
Registration renews annually and is due by December 31. The fee is $30 per unit. Units certified lead-free can be exempt from the annual fee.
3. Get a lead certificate before every new tenant
Before each change in occupancy, the unit must pass a lead inspection under the Full Risk Reduction standard: paint defects are corrected, then dust samples must pass. The certificate is issued by an MDE-accredited inspector.
4. Give the tenant the required documents
On or before move-in, the tenant gets the MDE Notice of Tenant’s Rights, the EPA pamphlet “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home,” and a copy of the lead inspection certificate.
5. Act fast on a notice of defect
If a tenant gives written notice of a defect, or you learn a child under 6 or a pregnant woman in the unit has an elevated blood lead level, you have 30 days to meet the Modified Risk Reduction standard. Source: MDE Notice of Tenant’s Rights.
Local rules add to the state rules
Cumberland, Baltimore City and Baltimore County all ask for lead compliance as part of their own rental licenses. See our rental license guide for each jurisdiction.
How we handle it
For every property we manage, we check the build year, keep the MDE registration current, schedule the lead inspection before each turnover and put the tenant documents in the lease packet. More on our lead paint and rental registration service.
Own a rental in Maryland? Get a free rental analysis. We tell you what the property should rent for and which of these rules apply to it.