Lead paint disclosure in Utah

The disclosure requirement comes from Section 1018 of Title X, which is federal law. It applies to most homes built before 1978, whether you're buying or renting.

Under the rule, the seller or landlord must do 4 things:

• Tell you about any lead-based paint or lead hazards they know of.
• Share whatever lead records they have for the home.
• Give you the EPA pamphlet on lead.
• Put a Lead Warning Statement in the contract or lease.

A Lead Warning Statement is fixed language in the papers that alerts you to the dangers of lead paint in an older home.

The federal rule gives buyers, but not renters, 10 days to test for lead. That's your chance to get the home checked before the deal closes.

In Utah, anyone you pay to do lead work has to hold a state certification. If you bring in a tester, ask for someone certified as a lead inspector or as a risk assessor. A risk assessor is someone trained to inspect a home for lead and figure out which spots might be dangerous.

The state's lead rules govern who can perform lead work, not a separate disclosure form. Under Utah Code 19-2-104, the Utah Air Quality Board writes the rules for lead paint training, certification, and how the work is done.

The state's Lead-Based Paint Program is run by the Utah Division of Air Quality. It certifies people and firms doing paid lead work in the state, such as inspectors, risk assessors, supervisors, renovators, abatement workers, project designers, and technicians who sample dust.

Roughly 1 in 3 Utah homes went up before 1980, per the US Census. Rentals are at nearly the same share.

If you hire someone to test or fix lead paint, ask which Utah certification they hold. A lead inspector or risk assessor can test the home, and a certified renovator or abatement firm can do the repair work.

At ages 1 and 2, every child on Medicaid needs a blood lead test, per the state health department.

Lead in blood is measured in micrograms per deciliter, a very small amount of lead in a fixed amount of blood. In 2021 the CDC lowered the level it treats as high to 3.5. Utah still only calls for follow-up testing and care when a child's result is 5 or higher, so if your child's result falls between the two, it's worth asking your doctor about it.

Every blood lead result in Utah goes to the state Department of Health and Human Services. If a child's venous test comes back at 3.5 or higher, that result must also reach the local health department within 90 days.

You don't need to do anything to share your child's result. The lab or clinic sends it to the state health department for you.