Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition Recommends Updates to Lead Safe Certification Law
Apr 08, 2026
CLEVELAND, OHIO—The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition has issued five recommendations to strengthen and clarify the City of Cleveland’s Lead Safe Certification law.
The recommendations, sent to Mayor Justin Bibb and City Council President Blaine Griffin Tuesday, were developed by the Coalition’s Policy Committee based on feedback from stakeholders throughout the city, including property owners, lead safe workers and families affected by lead hazards.
The recommendations were presented and approved by consensus at the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition Convening March 30.
The Coalition’s Policy Committee recommends:
- Establishing a standardized template for Lead Risk Assessments.
- Creating a lifetime certification pathway for fully abated units.
- Extending certification periods for low-risk properties.
- Establishing a lead safe ombudsperson.
- Aligning the Lead Safe Certification law with state and federal guidelines.
Since the Coalition was established in 2019, the cornerstone of its work has been supporting the city’s Lead Safe Certification law. These recommendations are intended to ensure the law is most effective in achieving its goal of protecting children from lead poisoning, which can cause life-long health and developmental problems.
“We’re grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the City of Cleveland,” said Ayonna Blue Donald, Vice President and Market Leader, Ohio Market, Enterprise Community Partners and Coalition Policy Committee Chair. “It’s a privilege to contribute to this critical work to give our city’s children the best chance at a healthy, successful future.”
The Coalition established its Policy Committee as part of its launch in 2019. The Committee’s purpose is to identify and support local, state and federal lead safe policies, including legislative, administrative and implementation changes. The committee also functions as a think tank to consider policy issues related to the implementation of Cleveland’s lead safe ordinance.
For more information about the Coalition’s work, visit Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition.
About the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition
The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition is a public-private partnership established in 2019 to address the City’s lead crisis, which particularly impacts children living in homes built before 1978 that contain lead-based paint. The Coalition’s programs aim to test ideas to improve lead screening and testing rates; help make environments lead-safe for Cleveland residents; and ease the financial burden associated with lead remediation. The Coalition’s work is made possible by philanthropic gifts, non-profit support and public funds. For more information, visit www.LeadSafeCLE.org.
Contact:
Candace Goforth DeSantis
Communications Program Manager
440.478.4693
cdesantis@enterprisecommunity.org