- Philadelphia Lead Law -

---

Stay Legal, stay in compliance. 

• Beginning October 1, 2020, landlords in Philadelphia will be required to test and certify rental properties as lead-safe or lead-free in order to A) execute a new or renewed lease or B) receive or      renew a rental license.  This requirement applies to all residential properties.

What is the risk of not being compliant with the new law? 

If you do not file a “lead safe” certificate by the dates as required by the law, the following actions may be taken against you:

• Failure to comply shall be subject to a fine of  $2000.00 for each residential unit. 
• Any tenant may enforce the provisions of the law and shall be entitled to actual damages not less than triple the monthly rent for each violation, plus attorneys’ fees and costs. 
• Where a landlord does not comply, the tenant shall be entitled to bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction and tenant shall be entitled to abatement and refund of rent for any period in which the lessee occupies the property without a required certification having been provided.

What do I need to do?

The City of Philadelphia recently amended the lead law which now requires ALL rental properties (not just those with children under 6) to have “Lead Safe or Lead Free Certificates” filed with the Public Health Department starting in 2020.  Landlords are required to:

          1. Certify the property is lead safe or lead free. 

          2. Submit the certificate to the Department of Public Health 

What do I need to do to show I’ve complied with the law?

Currently, you must mail, fax, or scan and email a copy of the certificate, and (for the lead safe properties) include a copy of the dust wipe test results, to:

Lead and Healthy Homes Program

Philadelphia Department of Public Health

2100 West Girard Avenue, Building #3

Philadelphia, PA 19130-1400

FAX #: 215-685-2978

Email: lead.cert@phila.gov

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is developing a portal for online submission of certificates and dust wipe results and will post instructions on how to use this portal as soon as it is available. Having a big sale, on-site celebrity, or other event? Be sure to announce it so everybody knows and gets excited about it.