Cal. Civ. Code § 6-801

Md. Code Ann., Environment Art. Title 6, Subtitle 8 — Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

In Force
Verified 10/26/2026 · Next check 11/2/2026
effective 10/12/2026MarylandLead-Based Paint

Operative Text

Cal. Civ. Code § 6-801
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) (1) “Affected property” means:

(i) A property constructed before 1950 that contains at least one rental dwelling unit;

(ii) On and after January 1, 2015, a property constructed before 1978 that contains at least one rental unit; or

(iii) Any residential rental property for which the owner makes an election under § 6–803(a)(2) of this subtitle.

(2) “Affected property” includes an individual rental dwelling unit within a multifamily rental dwelling.

(3) “Affected property” does not include property exempted under § 6–803(b) of this subtitle.

(c) “Change in occupancy” means a change of tenant in an affected property in which the property is vacated and possession is either surrendered to the owner or abandoned.

(d) “Child” means an individual under the age of 6 years.

(e) “Commission” means the Lead Poisoning Prevention Commission.

(f) (1) “Elevated blood lead” or “EBL” means a quantity of lead in blood, expressed in micrograms per deciliter (�g/dl), greater than or equal to the reference level specified in this subtitle and is determined in accordance with the following protocols:

(i) A venous blood test; or

(ii) Two capillary blood tests taken in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection.

(2) If the capillary blood test method is used, an individual shall:

(i) Have a first sample of capillary blood drawn and tested; and

(ii) Have a second sample of capillary blood drawn and tested within 84 days after the first sample is drawn.

(3) If the result of one capillary blood test would require action under this subtitle and the other result would not, an individual’s elevated blood lead level shall be confirmed by a venous blood test.

(g) “Exterior surfaces” means:

(1) All fences and porches that are part of an affected property;

(2) All outside surfaces of an affected property that are accessible to a child and that are:

(i) Attached to the outside of an affected property; or

(ii) Other buildings and structures, including play equipment, benches, and laundry line poles, that are part of the affected property, except buildings or structures that are not owned or controlled by the owner of the affected property; and

(3) All painted surfaces in stairways, hallways, entrance areas, recreation areas, laundry areas, and garages within a multifamily rental dwelling unit that are common to individual dwelling units and are accessible to a child.

(h) “Fund” means the Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund.

(i) (1) “High efficiency particle air vacuum” or “HEPA–vacuum” means a device capable of filtering out particles of 0.3 microns or greater from a body of air at an efficiency of 99.97% or greater.

(2) “HEPA–vacuum” includes use of a HEPA–vacuum.

(j) “Lead–based paint” means paint or other surface coatings that contain lead in excess of the maximum lead content level allowed by the Department by regulation.

(k) “Lead–contaminated dust” means dust in affected properties that contains an area or mass concentration of lead in excess of the lead content level determined by the Department by regulation.

(l) “Lead–free” means at or below a lead content level deemed to be lead–free in accordance with criteria established by the Department by regulation.

(m) “Lead–safe housing” means a rental dwelling unit that:

(1) Is certified to be lead–free in accordance with § 6–804 of this subtitle;

(2) Was constructed after 1978;

(3) Is deemed to be lead–safe by the Department in accordance with criteria established by the Department by regulation; or

(4) Is certified to be in compliance with § 6–815(a) of this subtitle and:

(i) In which all windows are either lead–free or have been treated so that all friction surfaces are lead–free;

(ii) In which lead–contaminated dust levels are determined to be within abatement clearance levels established by the Department by regulation, within a time frame established by the Department by regulation; and

(iii) Which is subject to ongoing maintenance and testing as specified by the Department by regulation.

(n) “Multifamily rental dwelling” means a property which contains more than one rental dwelling unit.

(o) (1) “Owner” means a person, firm, corporation, guardian, conservator, receiver, trustee, executor, or legal representative who, alone or jointly or severally with others, owns, holds, or controls the whole or any part of the freehold or leasehold interest to any property, with or without actual possession.

(2) “Owner” includes:

(i) Any vendee in possession of the property; and

(ii) Any authorized agent of the owner, including a property manager or leasing agent.

(3) “Owner” does not include:

(i) A trustee or a beneficiary under a deed of trust or a mortgagee; or

(ii) The owner of a reversionary interest under a ground rent lease.

(p) “Person at risk” means a child or a pregnant woman who resides or regularly spends at least 24 hours per week in an affected property.

(q) “Reference level” means:

(1) (i) Between July 1, 2020, and December 31, 2023, inclusive, a blood lead level of 5 �g/dl; and

(ii) On and after January 1, 2024, a blood lead level of 3.5 �g/dl; or

(2) If the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revise the blood lead reference value after December 31, 2023, the revised blood lead reference value, beginning 1 year after the date that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised the blood lead reference value.

(r) “Related party” means any:

(1) Person related to an owner by blood or marriage;

(2) Employee of the owner; or

(3) Entity in which an owner, or any person referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection, has an interest.

(s) “Relocation expenses” means all expenses necessitated by the relocation of a tenant’s household to lead–safe housing, including moving and hauling expenses, the HEPA–vacuuming of all upholstered furniture, payment of a security deposit for the lead–safe housing, and installation and connection of utilities and appliances.

(t) “Rent subsidy” means the difference between the rent paid by a tenant for housing at the time a qualified offer is made under Part V of this subtitle and the rent due for the lead–safe housing to which the tenant is relocated.

(u) (1) “Rental dwelling unit” means a room or group of rooms that form a single independent habitable rental unit for permanent occupation by one or more individuals that has living facilities with permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation.

(2) “Rental dwelling unit” does not include:

(i) An area not used for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, or sanitation, such as an unfinished basement;

(ii) A unit within a hotel, motel, or similar seasonal or transient facility;

(iii) An area which is secured and inaccessible to occupants; or

(iv) A unit which is not offered for rent.

(v) “Risk reduction standard” means a risk reduction standard established under § 6–815 or § 6–819 of this subtitle.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Maryland's lead paint law, Md. Code Ann., Env. §§ 6-801 to 6-852, establishes a comprehensive set of definitions that form the foundation for the state's residential lead poisoning prevention program. The definitions determine which properties are covered—generally pre-1950 rental units, and pre-1978 units on or after January 1, 2015—and clarify key concepts such as 'elevated blood lead,' 'lead-safe housing,' 'persons at risk,' and 'risk reduction standard.' These definitions shape how obligations, rights, and protections apply throughout the rest of the subtitle, including who counts as an owner, what qualifies as a rental dwelling unit, and what expenses must be covered when a tenant is relocated due to lead hazards.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 12, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under Md. Code Ann., Env. §§ 6-801 to 6-852, property owners and managers should be aware that the statute's definition of 'owner' expressly includes authorized agents such as property managers and leasing agents, meaning compliance obligations can extend beyond the titleholder. Operators of rental properties built before 1950—or before 1978 for tenancies beginning on or after January 1, 2015—should understand that their units likely qualify as 'affected property' subject to the full range of lead-safety requirements in the subtitle. Familiarity with defined terms like 'change in occupancy,' 'lead-safe housing,' and 'risk reduction standard' is essential for understanding when specific inspection, certification, and relocation-expense obligations are triggered.

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

For Tenants

Md. Code Ann., Env. §§ 6-801 to 6-852 defines 'person at risk' to include children under age 6 and pregnant women who live in or regularly spend at least 24 hours per week in a covered rental property, signaling that these individuals receive heightened protections under Maryland's lead law. Tenants in pre-1950 buildings—or pre-1978 buildings for leases beginning on or after January 1, 2015—should be aware that their unit is likely an 'affected property,' which triggers specific landlord duties elsewhere in the subtitle. Tenants who believe their rights under this law have been violated may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization, the Maryland Department of the Environment, or the Lead Poisoning Prevention Commission for information about available remedies and complaint processes.

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 12, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 12, 2026
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References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

Md. Code Ann. § 6-803
Not yet ingested
Md. Code Ann. § 6-804
Not yet ingested
Md. Code Ann. § 6-815
Not yet ingested
Md. Code Ann. § 6-819
Not yet ingested

References In

No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.

Related Rules

§ 127H
Repealed, 1992, 407, Sec. 9
§ 127M
Repealed, 1975, 615
§ 190
Program for the prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment of lead poisoning; lead poisoning control director; advisory committee

Source Information

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