Philadelphia’s lead law is one of the strictest in the country: if your rental unit was built before 1978 — and most of the city’s housing stock was — you cannot get or renew a Rental License without a lead-safe or lead-free certificate. Here is what the law actually requires.
Any residential rental property built before 1978 must be certified lead-safe or lead-free before a Rental License is issued or renewed.
A lead-safe certification comes from a dust-wipe and visual inspection performed by a certified lead inspector or risk assessor. It is valid for a limited period (the ordinance has used multi-year windows — check the current Philadelphia code for the term in force).
A lead-free certification requires XRF testing showing no lead-based paint anywhere in the unit. It does not expire.
The certificate must be submitted with your Rental License application or renewal through eCLIPSE.
1. Confirm the build year — Philadelphia property records and the OPA lookup make this easy.
2. Hire a PA-certified lead inspector or risk assessor (any firm certified for lead inspection work).
3. Pass the dust-wipe test: floors and windowsills are sampled; peeling paint is a common failure point — repaint and clean before the inspection.
4. Receive the certificate and upload it with your eCLIPSE license application or renewal.
5. Give tenants the federal lead disclosure form and EPA pamphlet at lease signing — that obligation is separate and applies nationwide.
Failures usually come from deteriorated paint or dust above clearance levels. Remediate (stabilize or remove the paint), re-clean, and retest. Keep the remediation receipts — they support your file if the certification is ever questioned.
Yes — anything built before 1978 needs a lead-safe or lead-free certification to get or renew a Rental License.
Lead-safe means an inspection found no hazards (dust wipes and intact paint) and is valid for a limited period; lead-free means testing showed no lead paint at all and never expires.
A Pennsylvania-certified lead inspector or risk assessor. Prices vary — call around, as it is a competitive market in Philadelphia.
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Manage your property free on 10DoorsThis template is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Landlord-tenant law changes and local ordinances may impose additional requirements — verify current state and local rules before serving any notice. Last reviewed September 2026.