Cal. Civ. Code § 199B
Exemptions from Secs. 189A to 199A
Operative Text
Section 199B. The provisions of sections one hundred and eighty-nine A to one hundred and ninety-nine A, inclusive, shall not apply to any dwelling unit having fewer than two hundred and fifty square feet of floor space calculated on the basis of total habitable room area or which is used as a rooming house; provided, that no person occupying said dwelling unit may be less than six years of age. For the purpose of this section, ''rooming house'' shall mean every dwelling or part thereof which contains one or more rooming units in which space is let or sublet for compensation by the owner or operator to four or more persons not within the second degree of kindred to the person compensated. Boarding houses, hotels, inns, lodging houses, dormitories and other similar dwelling places shall be included, and ''rooming units'' shall mean the room or group of rooms let to an individual or household for use as living and sleeping quarters. Sections one hundred and eighty-nine A to one hundred and ninety-nine A, inclusive and this chapter shall not apply to any unit for which a lease, rental, occupancy or tenancy is of thirty-one days or less in duration, which lease, rental or occupancy is for vacation or recreational purposes; provided, however, that said dwelling unit has no peeling or chipping paint, and the tenant has received the appropriate lead paint disclosure notification pursuant to regulations promulgated by the department of public health.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 111 § 199B carves out certain dwelling units from the lead paint inspection and notification requirements found in sections 189A through 199A. Specifically, units with fewer than 250 square feet of total habitable floor area, rooming houses (as defined by the statute), and short-term vacation or recreational rentals of 31 days or fewer fall outside those requirements. However, the exemption for small units does not apply if any occupant is under six years of age, and the short-term rental exemption only holds if the unit has no peeling or chipping paint and the tenant has received the required lead paint disclosure under Department of Public Health regulations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mass. Gen. Laws c. 111 § 199B, operators of very small units, rooming houses, and short-term vacation rentals should understand that these property types may fall outside the standard lead paint compliance framework of sections 189A–199A, but each exemption carries its own conditions. Compliant operators of small units under 250 square feet confirm that no child under six years of age occupies or will occupy the unit before relying on that exemption. Those offering short-term vacation or recreational rentals of 31 days or fewer generally ensure the unit is free of peeling or chipping paint and that tenants receive the lead paint disclosure notification required by Department of Public Health regulations before assuming the exemption applies.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 111 § 199B identifies specific housing situations—very small units, rooming houses, and short-term vacation rentals—where the lead paint protections of sections 189A through 199A may not apply. If a child under six lives in a unit claimed to be exempt due to its size, that exemption does not hold, and tenants in that situation may have grounds to raise a violation. Tenants in short-term rentals who did not receive a lead paint disclosure or who observe peeling or chipping paint may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or contact the relevant local or state housing authority to understand whether the exemption under § 199B was properly applied.
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 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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