6 Steps to Lead Safe Certification
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Follow the decision tree below to learn how to get your Lead Safe Certification.
6 Steps Decision Tree Proceso de Certificaion
Step 1: Contact the Resource Center
We’re here to help. The Lead Safe Resource Center wants to help protect you, your family, and your tenant’s families from the permanent harms of lead poisoning. If you have questions now, or at any point before getting your Lead Safe Certification, give us a call at 833.601.5323 or email us at lsrc@ehw.org. We’re standing by to help you get certified.
Step 2: Register Your Rental Property with the City of Cleveland
Register your property with the Department of Building and Housing via the City's Citizen Access Portal.
Visit the Citizen Access Portal
Step 3: Assess your Property
Lead based paint, the most common source of lead exposure to children in Cleveland, was banned in 1978. However, over 90% of rental units in the City of Cleveland were built before 1978. So, it’s very likely that your rental unit has lead in it. Potential lead hazards include any area with deteriorating lead-based paint (peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, damaged, or damp), especially those places that children can chew or that get a lot of wear-and-tear, such as: windows & window sills, doors & door frames, stairs, railings, banisters, and porches.
If your property has any evidence of hazards, you must remediate lead hazards prior to scheduling a lead safe clearance examination, and getting a Lead Safe Certification.
Hire a certified Lead Risk Assessor to obtain a Lead Risk Assessment. If no lead hazards are identified, you can skip to Step 6 and automatically apply for a two-year certification at this point.
Please note the Risk Assessor cannot have a financial interest in rental property.
Find a Certified Lead Risk Assessor
Step 4: Fix Your Property
Hire a certified contractor to complete interim controls or lead abatement measures to fix the lead hazards identified in the risk assessment.
Step 5: Clean your Property & Get Lead Clearance
Cleaning your property before scheduling a lead clearance examination greatly improves your chance of passing your clearance. You are highly encouraged to clean your property using the HUD cycle cleaning method 24 hours before scheduling your clearance examination.
Once you’ve remediated and cleaned your property, you’re ready to schedule a Lead Clearance Examination with the initial Lead Risk Assessor that assessed your property in Step 3.
Please note that your Clearance Examiner cannot be related to or the same as the RRP or Lead Abatement Licensed contractor that remediated your property in Step 4.
Step 6: Apply for Lead Safe Certification
You’re ready to submit your lead clearance report and/or lead risk assessment and apply for Lead Safe Certification! The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition thanks you for taking this vital step to protecting our children from lead poisoning. Please submit your lead safe clearance passing to the City of Cleveland using the link below.