40 C.F.R. § 745.103

§ 745.103 Definitions. (40 CFR Part 745)

In Force
Verified 8/21/2026 · Next check 9/20/2026
effective 8/21/2026FederalAffordable Housing Programs

Operative Text

40 C.F.R. § 745.103
The following definitions apply to this subpart.

The Act means the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992, 42 U.S.C. 4852d.

Agent means any party who enters into a contract with a seller or lessor, including any party who enters into a contract with a representative of the seller or lessor, for the purpose of selling or leasing target housing. This term does not apply to purchasers or any purchaser's representative who receives all compensation from the purchaser.

Available means in the possession of or reasonably obtainable by the seller or lessor at the time of the disclosure.

Common area means a portion of a building generally accessible to all residents/users including, but not limited to, hallways, stairways, laundry and recreational rooms, playgrounds, community centers, and boundary fences.

Contract for the purchase and sale of residential real property means any contract or agreement in which one party agrees to purchase an interest in real property on which there is situated one or more residential dwellings used or occupied, or intended to be used or occupied, in whole or in part, as the home or residence of one or more persons.

EPA means the Environmental Protection Agency.

Evaluation means a risk assessment and/or inspection.

Foreclosure means any of the various methods, statutory or otherwise, known in different jurisdictions, of enforcing payment of a debt, by the taking and selling of real property.

Housing for the elderly means retirement communities or similar types of housing reserved for households composed of one or more persons 62 years of age or more at the time of initial occupancy.

HUD means the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Inspection means:

(1) A surface-by-surface investigation to determine the presence of lead-based paint as provided in section 302(c) of the Lead-Based Paint Poisoning and Prevention Act [42 U.S.C. 4822], and

(2) The provision of a report explaining the results of the investigation.

Lead-based paint means paint or other surface coatings that contain lead equal to or in excess of 1.0 milligram per square centimeter or 0.5 percent by weight.

Lead-based paint free housing means target housing that has been found to be free of paint or other surface coatings that contain lead equal to or in excess of 1.0 milligram per square centimeter or 0.5 percent by weight.

Lead-based paint hazard means any condition that causes exposure to lead from lead-contaminated dust, lead-contaminated soil, or lead-contaminated paint that is deteriorated or present in accessible surfaces, friction surfaces, or impact surfaces that would result in adverse human health effects as established by the appropriate Federal agency.

Lessee means any entity that enters into an agreement to lease, rent, or sublease target housing, including but not limited to individuals, partnerships, corporations, trusts, government agencies, housing agencies, Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations.

Lessor means any entity that offers target housing for lease, rent, or sublease, including but not limited to individuals, partnerships, corporations, trusts, government agencies, housing agencies, Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations.

Owner means any entity that has legal title to target housing, including but not limited to individuals, partnerships, corporations, trusts, government agencies, housing agencies, Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations, except where a mortgagee holds legal title to property serving as collateral for a mortgage loan, in which case the owner would be the mortgagor.

Purchaser means an entity that enters into an agreement to purchase an interest in target housing, including but not limited to individuals, partnerships, corporations, trusts, government agencies, housing agencies, Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations.

Reduction means measures designed to reduce or eliminate human exposure to lead-based paint hazards through methods including interim controls and abatement.

Residential dwelling means:

(1) A single-family dwelling, including attached structures such as porches and stoops; or

(2) A single-family dwelling unit in a structure that contains more than one separate residential dwelling unit, and in which each such unit is used or occupied, or intended to be used or occupied, in whole or in part, as the residence of one or more persons.

Risk assessment means an on-site investigation to determine and report the existence, nature, severity, and location of lead-based paint hazards in residential dwellings, including:

(1) Information gathering regarding the age and history of the housing and occupancy by children under age 6;

(2) Visual inspection;

(3) Limited wipe sampling or other environmental sampling techniques;

(4) Other activity as may be appropriate; and

(5) Provision of a report explaining the results of the investigation.

Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Seller means any entity that transfers legal title to target housing, in whole or in part, in return for consideration, including but not limited to individuals, partnerships, corporations, trusts, government agencies, housing agencies, Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations. The term “seller” also includes:

(1) An entity that transfers shares in a cooperatively owned project, in return for consideration; and

(2) An entity that transfers its interest in a leasehold, in jurisdictions or circumstances where it is legally permissible to separate the fee title from the title to the improvement, in return for consideration.

Target housing means any housing constructed prior to 1978, except housing for the elderly or persons with disabilities or any 0-bedroom dwelling (unless any child who is less than 6 years of age resides or is expected to reside in such housing).

TSCA means the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. 2601.

0-bedroom dwelling means any residential dwelling in which the living area is not separated from the sleeping area. The term includes efficiencies, studio apartments, dormitory housing, military barracks, and rentals of individual rooms in residential dwellings.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Section 745.103 of 40 CFR Part 745 establishes the precise meanings of key terms used throughout the lead-based paint disclosure rules that apply to pre-1978 residential housing. Among the most consequential definitions are 'target housing,' which covers most homes built before 1978 with specific exceptions for elderly housing, disability housing, and 0-bedroom units, and 'lead-based paint,' which is defined by specific measurable thresholds of lead content. The definitions also clarify who qualifies as a seller, lessor, agent, purchaser, or lessee, and what constitutes an inspection versus a risk assessment — distinctions that shape which obligations apply under the broader regulation.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on September 4, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Property owners and managers offering pre-1978 residential dwellings for lease should be familiar with the definitions in § 745.103, as these terms determine whether a property qualifies as 'target housing' and therefore triggers disclosure obligations under the subpart. Compliant operators generally confirm whether their property meets the regulatory definition of target housing — accounting for exceptions such as housing reserved for elderly residents or 0-bedroom units with no children under six — before determining what disclosure steps apply. Understanding the distinction between an 'inspection' and a 'risk assessment' as defined in § 745.103 also helps operators ensure that any lead-related evaluation they obtain or disclose is properly characterized in transaction documents.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Tenants entering into leases for housing built before 1978 benefit from understanding the definitions in § 745.103, because those definitions determine whether the property they are renting qualifies as 'target housing' subject to lead-based paint disclosure requirements. If a tenant believes a landlord failed to make required disclosures — for example, by not sharing available information about known lead-based paint hazards as defined in this section — that potential violation may be raised as a defense in certain proceedings or reported to the EPA or HUD. Tenant-rights organizations and local housing agencies can help renters understand how the definitions in § 745.103 apply to their housing situation and what complaint or enforcement paths may be available.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated September 4, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Aug 21, 2026
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Related Rules

§ 1437
Declaration of policy and public housing agency organization
§ 5.100
§ 5.100 Definitions.
§ 5.107
§ 5.107 Audit requirements for non-profit organizations.

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