State guide
Massachusetts
Massachusetts has a state lead law that goes beyond the federal pre-1978 disclosure rule by requiring owners to make homes lead-safe when a child under 6 lives there. The state also runs its own authorized RRP program, and Boston separately requires rental registration and periodic rental inspections.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- State lead program
- The state lead program is run through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, with licensing and renovation/deleading enforcement handled by the Department of Labor Standards.
- Rental lead-safe requirements
- Statewide, Massachusetts does not have a general rental lead-safe certificate for every unit, but pre-1978 homes must be made lead-safe when a child under 6 lives there; Boston also requires rental registration and city rental inspections.
- Certified lead inspector and risk assessor lookup
- Official page →
- Renovation (RRP) program
- state program
- Disclosure
- Yes. Massachusetts requires the Tenant Lead Law Notification form for pre-1978 rentals and, if they exist, copies of the most recent lead inspection or risk assessment report and any Letter of Compliance or Letter of Interim Control.
Official resources in Massachusetts
Overview of Massachusetts lead requirements for owners, renters, buyers, and sellers.
Official tenant disclosure page listing the forms and documents owners must give before renting pre-1978 housing.
Official CLPPP page linking to Lead Safe Homes databases for inspection history and compliance documents.
Department of Labor Standards page for deleading and lead-safe renovation licensing and enforcement.
Official state list of licensed inspectors and inspector/risk assessors.
Key facts for Massachusetts
- Massachusetts law requires removal or control of lead paint in homes where a child under 6 lives.
- Owners renting pre-1978 housing must give tenants the Tenant Notification form before the rental agreement.
- If available, owners must also give tenants the most recent lead inspection or risk assessment report.
- If available, owners must also give tenants any Letter of Compliance or Letter of Interim Control.
- Massachusetts is on EPA’s list of states authorized to administer their own RRP programs.
- Boston selects rental properties for inspection once every five years and requires annual rental registration.
Local rental lead ordinances in Massachusetts
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program | Boston | Not published* | State program for lead law information, tenant notification, lead history, and childhood lead poisoning prevention. |
| Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program | Boston | Not published* | Alternate CLPPP contact listed on the tenant notification page. |
| Department of Labor Standards Asbestos Safety Program | Boston | Not published* | Licensing contact for lead-safe renovation and deleading licenses. |
| Boston Public Health Commission Lead Poisoning Prevention Suffolk | Boston | 617-534-5965 | Boston program offering inspections, education, enforcement support, and local records help. |
| Boston Inspectional Services Rental Inspection Program Suffolk | Boston | 617-635-1010 | Handles Boston rental inspections and rental program questions. |
| Boston Rental Inspection Program Suffolk | Boston | Not published* | Official city page for Boston’s rental inspection requirement and related forms. |
| Boston Rental Registration Suffolk | Boston | Not published* | Official city registration requirement for Boston rental properties. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If the unit was built before 1978, check Lead Safe Homes before renting or buying and save any reports you find.
- If a child under 6 lives in the unit, ask whether there is a Letter of Compliance or Letter of Interim Control.
- In Boston, confirm both annual rental registration and the property’s rental inspection status with the city.
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 Massachusetts's population center, for comparison only):
- Lead Hazard Reduction Program, Rhode Island · about 20 miles
- Environmental Lead Program, Rhode Island Department of Health, Rhode Island · about 31 miles
- RI Rental Registry, Rhode Island · about 31 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.The Massachusetts Lead Law
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 Massachusetts page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.