Beginning December 22, 2008, anyone paid to renovate residential housing or child-occupied facilities (such as daycare centers) built before 1978 must provide a new EPA pamphlet, entitled Renovate Right, to the owners and occupants. Both DCRA and the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) have already begun making the Renovate Right brochures available to the public.

If you are a contractor, feel free to download the new EPA pamphlets below in English and Spanish. DCRA is also providing sample renovation checklists and pre-renovation confirmation forms.

• Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers and Schools
• Remodelar correctamente: Información importante sobre los riesgos causados por el plomo para familias, proveedores de cuidado infantil y escuelas
• Sample Pre-Renovation Checklist
• Sample Pre-Renovation Confirmation Form

The brochure requirement begins the national implementation of a sweeping set of EPA regulations called the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, otherwise known as RRP. The rule establishes requirements for training and certifying individual renovators and renovation firms, to ensure that the work they do in properties that may contain lead paint is done safely, without generating lead hazards. The rule also establishes cleanup requirements for those whose work disturbs paint in these properties. The use of lead-based paint was not restricted nationally until 1978, and the bulk of the District’s housing was built before lead paint was banned.