State guide
New Hampshire
New Hampshire runs its own lead licensing and enforcement system through the Department of Health and Human Services Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. Unlike Nebraska and Nevada, New Hampshire has a limited statewide rental lead-safe certification requirement: after July 1, 2024, newly constructed rental units created in pre-1978 buildings must have certification of lead safety before occupancy.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- State lead program
- New Hampshire’s lead program is run by the DHHS Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, which licenses contractors, workers, inspectors, and risk assessors.
- Rental lead-safe requirements
- State law requires certification of lead safety before occupancy for newly constructed rental units within buildings erected before January 1, 1978; Manchester separately requires a Certificate of Compliance for all residential rental property under its housing code.
- Certified lead inspector and risk assessor lookup
- Official page →
- Renovation (RRP) program
- EPA
- Disclosure
- New Hampshire DHHS materials restate the federal pre-1978 disclosure rule, and I did not find a broader statewide rental lead disclosure rule beyond that on the official pages searched; the major added state rule I found is the limited lead-safe certification requirement for certain new rental units.
Official resources in New Hampshire
Official state statute on when lead-safe certification is required before a unit may be used as a residential rental unit.
Official administrative rules covering licensing, certificates of lead safe, and lead hazard reduction requirements.
Official DHHS list of licensed New Hampshire risk assessors and lead inspectors.
Official DHHS guidance on choosing an inspector and verifying New Hampshire license status.
Official city page explaining Manchester’s Certificate of Compliance requirement for residential rental property.
Key facts for New Hampshire
- New Hampshire licenses lead abatement contractors, lead inspectors, and lead risk assessors through DHHS.
- After July 1, 2024, newly constructed rental units in pre-1978 buildings need certification of lead safety before occupancy.
- New Hampshire rules say a licensed risk assessor issues a certificate of lead safe.
- DHHS publishes an official PDF list of licensed New Hampshire risk assessors and lead inspectors.
- Manchester requires all residential rental property in the city to have a Certificate of Compliance under Chapter 150 Housing Code.
- EPA’s RRP page does not list New Hampshire among states authorized to run their own RRP program.
Local rental lead ordinances in New Hampshire
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| NH DHHS Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program | Concord | Not published* | State lead program for licensing, prevention, and license verification. |
| NH DHHS Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program | Concord | Not published* | Program contact listed in DHHS housing guidance for lead questions and prevention. |
| Manchester Planning and Community Development - Code Enforcement Hillsborough | Manchester | (603) 624-6450 | Handles Manchester residential rental Certificate of Compliance status and housing-code enforcement. |
| Manchester Health Department - Lead and Asthma Case Management Hillsborough | Manchester | (603) 624-6466 | City health contact for lead screenings and local lead-poisoning prevention questions. |
| Manchester Health Department - Abrasive Paint Removal Permit Hillsborough | Manchester | Not published* | City permit page for abrasive paint removal projects intended to help prevent lead hazards. |
| Manchester Ordinances and Regulations Hillsborough | Manchester | Not published* | Official city ordinance hub that includes housing-code enforcement and lead-paint-control links. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If you are converting a pre-1978 building into a new rental unit, get a New Hampshire licensed risk assessor involved before occupancy.
- Use the DHHS licensed risk-assessor/inspector list, then call 1-800-897-LEAD to verify license or violation status before hiring.
- In Manchester, confirm the property’s Certificate of Compliance status with the city before leasing or buying a rental building.
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 New Hampshire's population center, for comparison only):
- Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Massachusetts · about 64 miles
- Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Massachusetts · about 64 miles
- Department of Labor Standards Asbestos Safety Program, Massachusetts · about 64 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.New Hampshire Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Rules (He-P 1600)
Website →Phone: (603) 271-4507 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the New Hampshire page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.