Philadelphia Lead-Safe Certification
Everything Philadelphia landlords, property managers, and realtors need to know about keeping pre-1978 rental properties licensed and lead-compliant.
What Is a Lead-Safe Certificate?
Philadelphia's Lead Disclosure and Certification Law requires owners of pre-1978 rental properties to prove their units are free of lead-based paint hazards before they can be rented out. A Lead-Safe certificate is issued after an EPA-certified inspector completes a visual assessment and collects dust wipe samples that are tested at an accredited laboratory.
If hazards are identified and later remediated, the property can instead receive a Lead-Free certification, which does not require renewal. Either certificate must be filed with the City before the Department of Licenses and Inspections will issue or renew a rental license.
Pre-1978 Rentals and the Four-Year Cycle
Any rental property built before 1978 and located in Philadelphia needs a current Lead-Safe or Lead-Free certificate on file, regardless of whether a child currently lives there. Properties built in 1978 or later are exempt, since residential lead-based paint was banned nationwide that year.
Once a Lead-Safe certificate is issued, it's valid for four years, after which the property must be re-inspected and recertified. Owners with multiple units often end up managing several different expiration dates at once, which is one of the most common compliance headaches landlords and property managers face.
What Happens When Your Certificate Lapses
If your Lead-Safe certificate expires, the City will not renew your rental license until a current certificate is back on file. Without an active rental license, you cannot legally collect rent, and tenants can use the lapse as leverage in a dispute.
Scheduling a reinspection takes time, and lab-analyzed results aren't instant, so owners who wait until renewal week often end up with a real gap in their rental license — and their rental income. Scheduling recertification 60 to 90 days before your certificate expires keeps your license, and your rent roll, uninterrupted.
Our Inspection Process and Turnaround Time
PA Lead Inspectors handles the entire certification process for you. Our EPA-certified inspectors perform a visual assessment of all painted surfaces, then collect dust wipe samples from floors, window sills, and window troughs for lab analysis.
Most inspections are completed in a single visit, and we deliver your certified report with full lab results in 48 to 72 hours. If hazards are found, we'll outline the specific remediation needed and can re-test once the work is complete, so you can get a passing certificate filed quickly. We also track your certification's expiration date and send renewal reminders well ahead of time, so you're never caught off guard by a lapsed certificate again.
We work with landlords, property managers, and realtors across Philadelphia and the surrounding Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks, and Chester counties.
Ready to Schedule Your Lead Inspection?
Our EPA-certified technicians provide thorough visual inspections and lead dust sampling to protect the health and safety of your family and tenants. Book your appointment today.