North Dakota Housing Finance Agency

HUD Lead-based Paint Regulations

Because the Downpayment and Closing Costs Assistance (DCA) program is funded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) HOME program, all loan closings in which DCA assistance is involved, and in which the home was built before January 1, 1978, are affected by HUD lead-based paint regulations.

If an initial visual inspection through either a Housing Quality Standards inspection or an appraisal reveals deteriorated (chipping, peeling or chalking) paint surfaces, the surfaces will have to be tested for the presence of lead-based paint by a certified inspector or risk assessor.

If lead-based paint is detected, the surfaces must be stabilized using "safe work practices" as defined by HUD. The only persons who can perform this work must have taken an 8-hour HUD-approved course on safe work practices. Once the surfaces are stabilized a clearance test must be performed. If the initial visual inspection reveals no deteriorated paint surfaces, then nothing further needs to be done. If a home was built after January 1, 1978, deteriorated paint surfaces can be fixed using normal methods and no testing is required.

For a list of North Dakota certified inspectors, risk assessors and lead safe workers, contact the ND Dept. of Health - Division of Air Quality at (701) 328-5188.

For Federal regulations and other technical assistance visit www.hud.gov/offices/lead and www.epa.gov/lead.

North Dakota Housing Finance Agency

2624 Vermont Avenue, PO Box 1535, Bismarck, ND 58502-1535

Bismarck Main Office -- (701) 328-8080 | ND Toll Free (800) 292-8621 | Fax (701) 328-8090 | TTY (800) 366-6888

Equal Housing Opportunity