Maryland Lead Certification Inspection

The Maryland Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing law requires owners of rental properties and landlords to have their properties certified lead-free. Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) requires that any property built before 1978 must pass a lead wipe test, ensuring all paint on the premises meets the standards they set. MRC offers Maryland-certified inspectors who can handle any request.

There are two types of lead inspections: a swipe lead test and a lead-free inspection.

Swipe Testing

With a swipe test, the inspector will perform dust swipes in all rooms and send the samples to the lab for testing. A landlord must schedule a swipe test before every tenant turnover.

Lead-Free Testing

A lead-free inspection requires the inspector to test rooms for any trace of lead. There are two tests that can classify a property as lead-free:

• Limited lead-free – the exterior doesn’t pass the lead-free inspection, but the interior does pass. The exterior must be inspected by a visual inspector every 2 years.
• Lead-free – Using an XRF gun, the exterior and interior of the property pass the inspection, and the testing never has to be done again.