State guide
Delaware
Delaware runs its own lead program through the Division of Public Health’s Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, and it also administers its own RRP program. Delaware’s rental code now requires pre-1978 rental units to be certified lead safe or lead free under Chapter 54, with lease disclosures tied to that certification.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- State lead program
- Delaware’s lead program is run by DHSS Division of Public Health through the Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.
- Rental lead-safe requirements
- Delaware law requires lead-safe or lead-free certification for pre-1978 rental units under Title 25 Chapter 54, and Wilmington separately requires city rental registration, licensing, and inspections.
- Renovation (RRP) program
- state program
- Disclosure
- Beyond the federal disclosure, Delaware law requires every rental agreement for a pre-1978 unit to disclose whether the unit and premises are certified lead safe or lead free, the certification date, and the lead inspector’s name.
Official resources in Delaware
Official Delaware page for lead abatement and RRP certification, regulations, forms, and contractor resources.
Explains Delaware landlord and tenant responsibilities for lead-safe rental housing and links to state and federal rules.
Official state statute for lead-safe or lead-free certification of rental units, recertification, disclosures, and public lead-inspector list requirements.
State lead-program home page with landlord, tenant, contractor, and testing links.
City of Wilmington rental licensing and inspection page for residential rental properties.
Key facts for Delaware
- Delaware says the Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program oversees enforcement of lead regulations and monitors compliance of individuals, firms, and training providers.
- Delaware says it became the first state in EPA Region III to administer and enforce a Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting program.
- In Delaware, individuals and firms performing lead-based paint activities must be certified by the Division of Public Health.
- Title 25 Chapter 54 requires pre-1978 rental units to be certified as lead free or lead safe and filed with the Department before a new tenancy, subject to the statute’s implementation language.
- Delaware law says the Department must establish and maintain a public list of all lead inspectors.
- Wilmington requires rental properties in the city to be registered, licensed, and inspected by the city.
Local rental lead ordinances in Delaware
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHSS Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Kent | Dover | Not published* | State lead office for Healthy Environments and lead issues. |
| DHSS Lead Information for Contractors Kent | Dover | Not published* | Lead abatement and RRP program page with certification forms, regulations, and training links. |
| DHSS Lead Information – Landlord and Tenants Kent | Dover | Not published* | State landlord/tenant lead guidance page for rental responsibilities and educational materials. |
| City of Wilmington Department of Licenses and Inspections New Castle | Wilmington | Not published* | City office for residential rental property licensing and inspections. |
| Wilmington 311 New Castle | Wilmington | Not published* | City contact listed on Wilmington’s licenses and inspections page. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Read Title 25 Chapter 54 and check whether your property is a pre-1978 rental that needs lead-safe or lead-free certification before a new lease.
- Use Delaware’s certified-contractor resources and DHSS lead contacts before hiring for renovation, abatement, or certification work.
- If your rental is in Wilmington, complete the city’s separate rental license, registration, and inspection requirements in addition to state lead rules.
Not seeing your city or county?
Not every city publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Delaware's population center, for comparison only):
- City of Annapolis Rental Operations and Property Maintenance, Maryland · about 55 miles
- Lead and Healthy Homes Program, Pennsylvania · about 56 miles
- Lead Certification Submission System, Pennsylvania · about 56 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.DHSS Lead Information for Contractors
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Delaware page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.