NJ rental lead law · P.L. 2021, c.182

Lead paint inspection for New Jersey rentals, sorted out fast.

If you rent out a home built before 1978, New Jersey requires a lead-based paint inspection and a lead-safe certificate. We connect you with a certified local inspector and keep the whole thing simple.

Call (973) 547-1863 Request online

NJ DCA-certified inspectors Free to use, no markup Usually same-day scheduling

Do I need a lead inspection?

Answer 3 questions for a plain-language read on your obligation.

1 When was the building built?

2 What kind of rental is it?

3 Is a tenant turnover coming up?

Pre-1978Rentals covered by the NJ lead-safe inspection law

Every 3 yrsOr at each tenant turnover, whichever comes first

$20State fee per unit, on top of the inspection. We keep pricing clear.

What you need to know

Everything for the lead-safe box on your lease

Straight answers on the law, the cost, the certificate, and the inspection itself, written for landlords, not lawyers.

Lead Paint Inspection Cost

What a lead inspection really costs in NJ

NJ Lead Paint Law

Who has to inspect, and by when

Lead-Safe Certification

Getting the certificate for your lease

Inspection Types

Visual, dust-wipe and XRF explained

Lead Inspection FAQ

Straight answers for NJ landlords

How it works

From notice to certificate in four steps

Tell us the property

Call or send the address, the year built, and any turnover date. Two minutes.

We match a certified inspector

We connect you with an NJ DCA-certified lead evaluation contractor who covers your town.

Inspection & sampling

The inspector does a visual assessment or dust-wipe sampling, whichever your town requires.

You get your certificate

A passing unit gets a lead-safe certificate for your tenant and your files. Done.

Why landlords use us

Compliant, without the runaround

Getting a notice from your town and figuring out who to call shouldn't eat your week. We already know the certified inspectors and how each town handles it.

Certified inspectors only
Every inspector we connect you with is certified by the NJ Department of Community Affairs to issue a valid lead-safe certificate.
Clear pricing, no markup
You pay the inspector directly at their quoted price, plus the flat $20 state fee. We don't take a cut.
We know your town
Bloomfield, Belleville, Nutley, Montclair and the rest of Essex County each handle filing a little differently. We line it up.

A certified inspector examining a home's window and trim for lead-based paint — Representative photo. A certified lead evaluation contractor checks painted surfaces during a rental inspection.

Get matched

Request your lead-safe inspection

Tell us about the property and we'll connect you with a certified inspector who covers your town, usually the same day.

Free referral, you only pay the inspector
NJ DCA-certified lead evaluation contractors
We handle the matchmaking so you don't call around

Request a lead-safe inspection

Tell us about the property. We connect you with a certified NJ inspector, usually the same day. No cost to use this service.

Request received

Thanks. A certified local inspector will reach out shortly. Need it sooner? Call (973) 547-1863.

Service area

Serving landlords across Essex County, New Jersey

We connect property owners statewide, and we're focused first on Essex County's older rental stock. Pick your town or just call.

Bloomfield Belleville Nutley Orange West Orange Montclair Glen Ridge Verona Cedar Grove

Questions

Lead inspection questions, answered plainly

Is a lead paint inspection required for my New Jersey rental?

If you rent out a home or unit built before 1978 and it isn't a short seasonal rental, yes. New Jersey's rental lead law (P.L. 2021, c.182) requires a lead-based paint inspection and a lead-safe certificate, repeated every three years or whenever a tenant turns over. Buildings from 1978 or later are exempt.

How much does a lead paint inspection cost in NJ?

For a single unit, private inspectors commonly charge somewhere in the low-to-mid hundreds, plus a $20-per-unit state fee that funds the Lead Hazard Control Assistance Act, and sometimes a small municipal filing fee. Price depends on the town, the number of units, and whether a visual assessment or dust-wipe sampling is required. We can get you a real quote when you call.

Do I have to use my town, or can I hire my own inspector?

You can hire any NJ DCA-certified lead evaluation contractor directly. Some towns run their own inspections and some point you to private firms. Hiring your own certified inspector is usually faster, and that's who we connect you with.

What is a lead-safe certificate and how long is it good for?

It's the document that proves the unit was inspected and no lead hazard was found. You give a copy to your tenant and attach it to the lease. A lead-safe certificate is generally valid for three years or until the next tenant turnover. A lead-free certificate, which is harder to earn, lasts much longer.

Is this service really free to use?

Yes. NJ Lead Paint Inspection is a free referral service. You only pay the certified inspector for the inspection itself, at the price they quote you up front. We are not a contractor and we don't add a markup.