Iowa Admin. Code r. 481—469 § 481—469.2
Definitions.
Operative Text
“Arithmetic mean” means the algebraic sum of data values divided by the number of data values. For example, the sum of the concentration of lead in several soil samples divided by the number of samples is the arithmetic mean. “Certificate of mailing” means certified mail with return receipt or its equivalent. “Chewable surface” means an interior or exterior surface painted with lead-based paint that a young child can mouth or chew. “Child-occupied facility” means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 10A.903. “Child-occupied facility” also includes any building where lead-based paint activities are conducted immediately prior to or during the conversion of the building to a child-occupied facility. “Common area” means a portion of the building that is generally accessible to all occupants. This includes but is not limited to hallways, stairways, laundry and recreational rooms, playgrounds, community centers, garages, and boundary fences. “Compensation” means payment or reimbursement for services performed. Compensation is not limited to monetary considerations and includes payment of rent for rental units, receipt of a salary from the owner or manager of target housing, and receipt of a salary from the owner or operator of a child-occupied facility. “Components” means specific design or structural elements or fixtures of a building, residential dwelling, or child-occupied facility that are distinguished from each other by form, function, and location. These include but are not limited to interior components such as ceilings, crown moldings, walls, chair rails, doors, door trim, floors, fireplaces, radiators and other heating units, shelves, shelf supports, stair treads, stair risers, stair stringers, newel posts, railing caps, balustrades, windows and trim (including sashes, window heads, jambs, sills or stools and troughs), built-in cabinets, columns, beams, bathroom vanities, countertops, and air conditioners; and exterior components such as painted roofing, chimneys, flashing, gutters and downspouts, ceilings, soffits, facias, rake boards, corner boards, bulkheads, doors and door trim, fences, floors, joists, latticework, railings and railing caps, siding, handrails, stair risers and treads, stair stringers, columns, balustrades, windowsills or stools and troughs, casing, sashes and wells, and air conditioners. “Department” means the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing. “Dripline” means the area within three feet surrounding the perimeter of a building. “Dust-lead hazard” means surface dust in residential dwellings or child-occupied facilities that contains a mass-per-area concentration of lead equal to or exceeding 5 micrograms per square foot on floors, 40 micrograms per square foot on interior windowsills, and 100 micrograms per square foot on window troughs based on wipe samples. A dust-lead hazard is present in a residential dwelling or child-occupied facility when the weighted arithmetic mean lead loading for all single-surface or composite samples of floors and interior windowsills is equal to or greater than 5 micrograms per square foot on floors, 40 micrograms per square foot on interior windowsills, and 100 micrograms per square foot on window troughs based on wipe samples. A dust-lead hazard is present on floors, interior windowsills, or window troughs in an unsampled residential dwelling in a multifamily dwelling if a dust-lead hazard is present on floors, interior windowsills, or window troughs, respectively, in at least one sampled residential unit on the property. A dust-lead hazard is present on floors, interior windowsills, or window troughs in an unsampled common area in a multifamily dwelling if a dust-lead hazard is present on floors, interior windowsills, or window troughs, respectively, in at least one sampled common area in the same common area group on the property. “Dwelling unit” means a single, unified combination of rooms designed for use as a dwelling by one family. “Emergency renovation, remodeling, or repainting” means renovation, remodeling, or repainting activities necessitated by nonroutine failures of equipment or a structure that were not planned but resulted from a sudden, unexpected event that, if not immediately attended to, presents a safety or public health hazard or threatens equipment or property with significant damage. “Friction surface” means an interior or exterior surface that is subject to abrasion or friction including but not limited to certain window, floor, and stair surfaces. “Hazardous lead-based paint” means lead-based paint that is present on a friction surface where there is evidence of abrasion or where the dust-lead level on the nearest horizontal surface underneath the friction surface (e.g., the windowsill or floor) is equal to or greater than the dust-lead hazard level, lead-based paint that is present on an impact surface that is damaged or otherwise deteriorated from impact, lead-based paint that is present on a chewable surface, or any other deteriorated lead-based paint in any residential building or child-occupied facility or on the exterior of any residential building or child-occupied facility. “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 older or an age recognized as elderly by a specific federal housing assistance program. “Impact surface” means an interior or exterior surface that is subject to damage by repeated sudden force such as certain parts of door frames. “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 more than 0.5 percent by weight. “Lead-based paint hazard” means hazardous lead-based paint, a dust-lead hazard, or a soil-lead hazard. “Living area” means any area of a residential dwelling used by at least one child six years of age or less including but not limited to living rooms, kitchen areas, dens, playrooms, and children’s bedrooms. “Mid-yard” means an area of a residential yard approximately midway between the dripline of a residential building and the nearest property boundary or between the driplines of a residential building and another building on the same property. “Multifamily dwelling” means a structure that contains more than one separate residential dwelling unit, which is used or occupied, or is intended to be used or occupied, in whole or in part, as the home or residence of one or more persons. “Person” means individual, corporation, limited liability company, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, or association, or any other legal entity. “Play area” means an area of frequent soil contact by children of less than six years of age as indicated by but not limited to factors including the following: the presence of play equipment (sandboxes, swing sets, and sliding boards), toys, or other children’s possessions, observations of play patterns, or information provided by parents, residents, caregivers, or property owners. “Regulated entity” means any individual or company that is regulated by the department by virtue of these rules, the Iowa Code, or other official regulatory promulgation. “Renovation, remodeling, repainting” means modifying any existing structure or portion of a structure where painted surfaces are disturbed, unless the activity fits the criteria of lead abatement as defined in rule 481--470.2(10A) and is performed by a certified lead abatement contractor as defined in rule 481--470.2(10A). This includes, but is not limited to, removing walls, ceilings, and other painted building components; window replacement; floor refinishing; and sanding, scraping, stripping, water blasting, or otherwise removing paint. “Residential dwelling” means (1) a detached single-family dwelling unit, including the surrounding yard, attached structures such as porches and stoops, and detached buildings and structures including but not limited to garages, farm buildings, and fences, or (2) a single-family dwelling unit in a structure that contains more than one separate residential dwelling unit, which is used or occupied, or intended to be used or occupied, in whole or part, as the home or residence of one or more persons. “Soil-lead hazard” means bare soil on residential real property or on the property of a child-occupied facility that contains total lead in excess of 400 parts per million for the dripline, mid-yard, and play areas. A soil-lead hazard is present in a dripline, mid-yard, or play area when the soil-lead concentration from a composite sample of bare soil is equal to or greater than 400 parts per million. “Target housing” means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 10A.903. [ARC 8907C, IAB 2/19/25, effective 3/26/25; Editorial change: IAC Supplement 4/2/25; ARC 0594D, IAB 9/16/26, effective 10/21/26]
Iowa Admin. Code r. 481—469 § 481—469.2 establishes the precise meanings of key terms used throughout Iowa's lead-based paint regulatory framework. These definitions—covering concepts such as 'dust-lead hazard,' 'chewable surface,' 'target housing,' and 'child-occupied facility'—set the boundaries for how the rules apply to residential dwellings and facilities where children spend time. Understanding these definitions is essential for interpreting any obligation or standard found elsewhere in the 481—469 chapter.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to Iowa's lead-based paint rules should familiarize themselves with the definitions in § 481—469.2, as terms like 'common area,' 'components,' 'renovation, remodeling, repainting,' and 'compensation' carry specific regulatory meanings that determine when and how compliance obligations are triggered. For example, the broad definition of 'compensation' includes receipt of rent, meaning landlords who perform their own lead-related work may be considered compensated under the rule. Operators of multifamily dwellings should pay particular attention to how 'dust-lead hazard' applies to unsampled units based on findings in sampled units.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in residential dwellings or child-occupied facilities covered by Iowa's lead rules benefit from the precise standards set out in § 481—469.2, which define thresholds like dust-lead hazard levels and identify what surfaces and areas are regulated. These definitions shape what landlords are required to address and what conditions may constitute a hazard under Iowa law. Tenants who have concerns about lead conditions may consult a tenant-rights organization or contact the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing for guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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