Massachusetts Lead Disclosure (G.L. c.111 §§ 189A–199A) — Definitive Guide 2026

Massachusetts's lead-paint statute under M.G.L. Chapter 111 §§ 189A–199A and 105 CMR 460 is the strictest residential-lead regime in the United States. Unlike the federal EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule — which imposes lead-safe work practices but does not mandate removal — the Massachusetts Lead Law requires actual deleading of any pre-1978 home where a child under six lives or regularly visits. The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) under the Massachusetts Department of Public Health administers the law and tracks every Letter of Compliance issued.

What it governs

The MA Lead Law has two posture levels:

• Letter of Compliance: full deleading certification by an MA-licensed Lead Inspector. Required when a child under 6 occupies the unit and the unit is pre-1978.
• Letter of Interim Control: temporary 12-month certification documenting that immediate hazards have been mitigated. Renewable up to 24 months while a full deleading is in progress.

Deleading work itself must be performed by an MA-licensed Deleader (deleading contractor), with limited exceptions for "moderate-risk" surfaces that a homeowner or any contractor with state-approved training can address. Cleaning verification by an MA-licensed Lead Inspector or Risk Assessor is mandatory before issuance of either Letter.

The statutory framework predates the federal EPA RRP rule by 30 years (the MA Lead Law dates to 1971; EPA RRP dates to 2008/2010). MA contractors comply with both regimes — the federal RRP for renovation work-practice protocol and the state Lead Law for deleading requirements.

Homeowner implications

For a Massachusetts homeowner — Boston, Cambridge, Worcester, Springfield, Lowell — the Lead Law creates affirmative landlord and seller obligations. A landlord renting to a family with a child under 6 is required to delead the unit (or document Letter of Interim Control while the work is in progress). The Lead Paint Notification must be presented to every prospective tenant and buyer of any pre-1978 property.

For homeowner-occupants, the law creates no affirmative deleading obligation while the home is owner-occupied — but any subsequent rental or sale to a household with a child under 6 triggers the obligation. Practical pre-purchase pathway: have a Lead Inspector run a child-related lead inspection before closing on any pre-1978 home. The cost is roughly $400 to $800 and the result identifies any presumed-lead surfaces requiring action.

The CDLI (Child Lead Determination Indicator) database and the Letter of Compliance registry are searchable through the CLPPP. A homeowner with a Letter of Compliance can rent or sell with the lead-related obligations satisfied.

Contractor implications

Contractors performing deleading work must hold an MA-licensed Deleader credential. Renovation work in pre-1978 homes that disturbs lead-paint surfaces (more than 6 sq ft interior or 20 sq ft exterior) triggers federal EPA RRP work-practice protocol PLUS the MA Lead Law deleading requirement if the home is presumed-lead-positive. The two regimes overlap but are not identical — work-practice protocol under EPA RRP is required during renovation; Letter-of-Compliance status under the MA Lead Law is required to satisfy the landlord/seller obligation.

Lead Inspectors and Risk Assessors are separate state credentials issued by CLPPP. The Deleader licensee must coordinate with the Inspector/Risk Assessor — the inspector verifies pre-deleading conditions, the deleader does the work, the inspector verifies cleaning and issues the Letter.

How AskBaily uses it

Every AskBaily Boston-metro match for a pre-1978 home runs:

• Year-built lookup against parcel + assessor records to identify pre-1978 housing
• Federal EPA RRP firm-certification verification (cross-reference our EPA RRP canonical)
• MA Deleader license verification at the CLPPP roster
• MA Lead Inspector + Risk Assessor credential verification when the project includes Letter-of-Compliance scope
• Surface a flag on the homeowner-facing scope card: "MA Lead Law deleading scope detected — Deleader + Inspector verification in place"
• Cross-reference the MA HIC + CSL credential under our MA HIC + CSL canonical

Recent changes 2024–2026

The 2024 CLPPP regulatory amendment to 105 CMR 460 tightened cleanup-verification standards (matching the proposed federal RRP dust-clearance tightening) and clarified that owner-occupant exemptions do not extend to subsequent rentals. The 2025 Massachusetts Lead Law Reform Act consideration was deferred pending federal RRP rulemaking; no statutory change resulted.

Frequently asked questions

Does the MA Lead Law apply to my owner-occupied home? No affirmative deleading obligation unless you rent or sell to a household with a child under 6.

What's the difference between EPA RRP and MA Lead Law? RRP is a federal work-practice protocol. The MA Lead Law mandates actual lead removal (deleading) under specific occupancy conditions.

How much does a Letter of Compliance cost? $5,000 to $30,000+ depending on home size, condition, and surface count.

Where do I verify a Deleader license? mass.gov lead-paint search.

Is Massachusetts the only state with this kind of law? No, but Massachusetts is the strictest. Maryland, Rhode Island, and New Jersey have similar but less rigorous regimes.