Lead Paint Inspections 
(530) 345-2227
Serving Chico, Oroville and Paradise CA, as well as Butte, Glenn,
Tehama, Shasta, Plumas and Lassen counties
Tehama, Shasta, Plumas and Lassen counties
CDPH Lead Inspector/Assessor
Click here to View EPA's RRP video to get you started
Q Is there something I can read that will help me understand the Renovation, Repair and Painting rule?
A Steve Masek of Masek Consulting Services, Inc., has prepared an excellent paper on Costly EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Mis-Perceptions. Steve Masek was a speaker at the California Association of Realtors risk management forum in January of 2011.
Q Can you give me some information on the California rules?
A This handout is designed to help contractors understand California’s lead-based paint (LBP) work practice requirements. These regulations are separate from EPA’s RRP Rule.
Q Who can certify if the paint is lead-free?
A In California, only a California Department of Public Health (CDPH) certified inspector/assessor can test and certify for the presence of lead-based paint. Mike Brodie of Choice Property Services is a CDPH certified lead inspector/assessor and can test for lead paint in Chico, Oroville, and Paradise, Red Bluff, Redding, Corning, Lake Almanor, Chester, Quincy, as well as other areas in the counties of Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Shasta, Plumas and Lassen.
Q What is RRP Certified, and where can I find more information and classes?
A RRP stands for Renovation, Repair and Painting. All contractors disturbing paint on pre-1978 housing needs to be RRP certified. Classes can be located on the EPA website.
Q What happens if I don't follow the RRP Rule?
A The EPA has fines under the rule up to $37,500 per day. Additional fines may be levied by the state, county or city. In California, creating a lead dust hazard is against the law.
Q Are their exceptions to the rule?
A If the home is certified by a CDPH lead inspector/assessor to be lead-free, there is no need to follow lead-safe practices. When performing a renovation in a pre-1978 home, a firm is excepted from the requirements of the RRP Rule if a determination has been made that the surfaces affected by the renovation are free of paint or other surface coatings that contain lead equal to or less than 1.0 mg/cm2 or .5% by weight. However, in order for this exception to apply, the determination must be made by a certified lead inspector or risk assessor.
Q I am not too worried about the EPA fines, after all, the EPA can't be everywhere at the same time, and what are the odds?
A Just recently a contractor (with an RRP certification) was fined $150,000 for EPA violations. A neighbor simply took a video, posted it on YouTube, and turned them in to the EPA. Check out the video on our blog.
The EPA has also set up incentives for counties and cities, as well as private citizens, to turn in violators.
Click here to learn if you can use EPA approved lead test kits in California
Q Is there something I can read that will help me understand the Renovation, Repair and Painting rule?
A Steve Masek of Masek Consulting Services, Inc., has prepared an excellent paper on Costly EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Mis-Perceptions. Steve Masek was a speaker at the California Association of Realtors risk management forum in January of 2011.
Q Can you give me some information on the California rules?
A This handout is designed to help contractors understand California’s lead-based paint (LBP) work practice requirements. These regulations are separate from EPA’s RRP Rule.
Q Who can certify if the paint is lead-free?
A In California, only a California Department of Public Health (CDPH) certified inspector/assessor can test and certify for the presence of lead-based paint. Mike Brodie of Choice Property Services is a CDPH certified lead inspector/assessor and can test for lead paint in Chico, Oroville, and Paradise, Red Bluff, Redding, Corning, Lake Almanor, Chester, Quincy, as well as other areas in the counties of Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Shasta, Plumas and Lassen.
Q What is RRP Certified, and where can I find more information and classes?
A RRP stands for Renovation, Repair and Painting. All contractors disturbing paint on pre-1978 housing needs to be RRP certified. Classes can be located on the EPA website.
Q What happens if I don't follow the RRP Rule?
A The EPA has fines under the rule up to $37,500 per day. Additional fines may be levied by the state, county or city. In California, creating a lead dust hazard is against the law.
Q Are their exceptions to the rule?
A If the home is certified by a CDPH lead inspector/assessor to be lead-free, there is no need to follow lead-safe practices. When performing a renovation in a pre-1978 home, a firm is excepted from the requirements of the RRP Rule if a determination has been made that the surfaces affected by the renovation are free of paint or other surface coatings that contain lead equal to or less than 1.0 mg/cm2 or .5% by weight. However, in order for this exception to apply, the determination must be made by a certified lead inspector or risk assessor.
Q I am not too worried about the EPA fines, after all, the EPA can't be everywhere at the same time, and what are the odds?
A Just recently a contractor (with an RRP certification) was fined $150,000 for EPA violations. A neighbor simply took a video, posted it on YouTube, and turned them in to the EPA. Check out the video on our blog.
The EPA has also set up incentives for counties and cities, as well as private citizens, to turn in violators.