Cleveland Lead Safe Certification for Landlords
Lead inspections, risk assessments and clearance testing for pre-1978 Cleveland rentals
Who needs a Lead Safe Certificate?
The City of Cleveland requires residential rental units built before 1978 to hold a Lead Safe Certificate from the Department of Building & Housing. The certificate is valid for two years, and it must be uploaded to your rental registration to rent the unit in good standing.
- Required: pre-1978 rental homes, duplexes and apartment units inside Cleveland city limits
- Not required: properties built in 1978 or later
- Exempt with an affidavit: owner-occupied homes
- Not required while empty: rental units left unoccupied with no rent collected
Not sure where your property stands? Call (216) 769-6072 and we will walk you through it.
Your three paths to certification
2-year Lead Safe Certificate
A visual inspection plus lead dust wipe samples, analyzed by an EPA-recognized laboratory. If no lead hazards are found, or after hazards are fixed and the unit passes clearance, the property can be certified for two years.
20-year exemption (LIRA)
A Lead Inspection and Risk Assessment (LIRA) adds testing of the painted surfaces themselves. Properties that qualify can be exempt for 20 years instead of renewing every two. Ask us whether your property is a good candidate.
Clearance after repairs
When an assessment finds hazards and repair or abatement work is done, a clearance examination confirms the unit is now lead safe so the certificate can be issued.
How it works
Confirm your property needs it
Find your parcel number and year built on Cuyahoga County MyPlace. Rentals built before 1978 in the City of Cleveland need a Lead Safe Certificate.
Book your inspection
Call (216) 769-6072 or send the quote form below. Tell us the address, number of units, and whether tenants are living there.
Inspection and sampling
We inspect the unit for deteriorated paint and other hazards and collect dust wipe samples from floors and window areas for laboratory analysis.
Fix any hazards
If hazards are found, interim controls such as paint stabilization and specialized cleaning can be done by an EPA Lead-Safe (RRP) certified firm. Full abatement requires an Ohio Department of Health licensed abatement contractor. Our contracting team is an EPA Lead Safe Certified Firm and can quote the work.
Submit and register
The report and Lead Safe Certification application go to the City of Cleveland Department of Building & Housing. Once your certificate is issued, upload it to your rental registration.
Why Cleveland landlords call us
- EPA Lead Safe Certified Firm, BPI Certified Professional and BBB A+ Accredited Business
- Testing and repairs under one roof: inspections plus a licensed, bonded and insured contracting team for lead-safe repairs
- Single-family, duplex and multi-family, residential and commercial
- Serving Cleveland and Cuyahoga, Lake, Medina and Geauga counties
Lead Safe Certification questions
Who needs a Cleveland Lead Safe Certificate?
Owners of residential rental units in the City of Cleveland that were built before 1978. The certificate is required to rent the unit and to complete your rental registration.
How long is a Lead Safe Certificate good for?
A standard Lead Safe Certificate is valid for two years, after which the unit must be inspected and certified again. Properties that qualify through a Lead Inspection and Risk Assessment (LIRA) can receive a 20-year exemption.
Do I need one if I live in the home?
No. Owner-occupied units are exempt, but the City asks owners to file a Lead Safe exemption affidavit. Properties built in 1978 or later do not need certification, and a rental unit that sits empty with no rent collected is not required to be certified while it stays unoccupied.
What happens if my rental does not pass?
The hazards identified in the report must be corrected, by interim controls or abatement, and the unit must then pass a clearance examination before the certificate can be issued.
Is there help paying for lead repairs?
Programs change over time. The Lead Safe Resource Center at (833) 601-5323 can tell you which loans, grants or incentives are currently open for Cleveland property owners.
Do you inspect multi-family buildings?
Yes. We inspect single-family homes, duplexes and multi-family buildings, both residential and commercial, throughout Cleveland and Cuyahoga, Lake, Medina and Geauga counties.
Requirements summarized from the City of Cleveland and the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition as of October 2026. Rules can change, so confirm current requirements on the City of Cleveland Lead Safe page or with the Lead Safe Resource Center.