Minn. R. 4761 § 4761.2645

METHODS FOR REMOVING LARGE AREAS OF INTERIOR PAINT.

In Force
Verified 10/26/2026 · Next check 11/2/2026
effective 9/30/2026MinnesotaRRP

Operative Text

Minn. R. 4761 § 4761.2645
Subpart 1. Applicability.
The methods in this part must be used when performing lead hazard reduction of interior painted surfaces greater than ten percent of the surface area when working on trim around doors, windows, or other small building components, or greater than two square feet per room when working on other surfaces.

Subp. 2. Access required.
A person must allow the commissioner to have access to a work site, according to Minnesota Statutes, section 144.99, subdivision 2, while the person performs regulated lead work.

Subp. 3. Containment preparation.
A. A containment must be prepared according to this subpart before lead hazard reduction begins.
B. The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems to the containment must be restricted.
C. All objects that are contaminated or suspected of being contaminated with lead-based paint chips or lead-contaminated dust must be:
(1) vacuumed with a HEPA-filtered vacuum;
(2) wet wiped; or
(3) disposed of as lead-contaminated waste.
D. All movable objects must be removed from the containment.
E. The floor of the containment must be cleaned using a vacuum with a HEPA filter to remove all visible paint chips.

Subp. 4. Installing containment barriers.
A. Objects that cannot be removed from the containment must be covered and secured with at least one layer of one-mil plastic sheeting.
B. At least one layer of six-mil plastic sheeting must be placed over the entire floor of the containment. Plastic sheeting must be sealed to the perimeter of the containment where the walls and floors meet to prevent lead contamination of the floor surface.
C. Temporary barriers of no less than six-mil plastic sheeting may divide a room to restrict the size of the room.
D. Any openings to the containment must be covered with at least one-mil plastic sheeting to prevent the escape of dust and debris unless the opening can be secured from inside the containment.
E. All heating, ventilating, and air conditioning vents within the containment must be sealed with an airtight seal of at least one-mil plastic sheeting.
F. If exterior windows, doors, or associated components are to be treated or replaced from the interior, two layers of plastic sheeting must be attached to the exterior wall to cover the window or door opening. If the window or door being treated has an intact and operational storm window or door that will not be disturbed during the window or door treatment, no exterior plastic is required.

Subp. 5. Residents.
A. Residents who are not personally performing lead hazard reduction must not be present in the residence while work is ongoing.
B. Residents may return to the residence for overnight occupancy when lead hazard reduction ceases for the day and cleanup is completed in the containment.
C. Returning residents must be provided with lead-safe passage to a bathroom, at least one living area, and an entry and egress route.
D. Residents must be restricted from gaining access to the containment until all work is completed, the clearance inspection is conducted according to part 4761.2670, and clearance dust sample results meet the standards under part 4761.2510, subpart 2.

Subp. 6. Warning signs.
Warning signs as required in part 4761.2615, item F, must be placed at all entries to the residence and all entries to containments within the residence. Signs must remain posted overnight if work is to continue the following day.

Subp. 7. Decontamination procedures.
A. The certified lead firm, lead supervisor, or property owner performing the lead hazard reduction must provide proper washing facilities for workers to thoroughly wash hands, face, and other exposed body surfaces.
B. If existing facilities are used at the work site to decontaminate, the certified lead firm, lead supervisor, or property owner must:
(1) provide workers with soap and disposable towels; and
(2) clean the existing facility until no visible dust, dirt, or debris remains each day before leaving the site.

Subp. 8. Daily cleaning procedures.
A. This subpart applies if work is to resume the next day.
B. If plastic floor sheeting is left in place for the next day, it must be cleaned of visible dust and debris using a vacuum with a HEPA filter or using any other EPA-documented methodology under part 4761.2000, subpart 15, item K. Holes in the plastic must be sealed.
C. If plastic floor sheeting is removed, it must be removed in a way to contain all lead-contaminated dust and debris and discarded as lead-contaminated. The exposed floor surface must be cleaned using a vacuum with a HEPA filter or using any other EPA-documented methodology under part 4761.2000, subpart 15, item K.
D. All floors in adjacent areas, areas used as pathways to the containment, and any areas used to store equipment and waste materials must be cleaned using a vacuum with a HEPA filter and wet wiped or cleaned using any other EPA-documented methodology under part 4761.2000, subpart 15, item K.

Subp. 9. Final cleaning procedures and inspection.
A. When lead hazard reduction is completed, the certified lead firm, lead supervisor, or property owner must:
(1) inspect all work surfaces where lead hazard reduction was conducted and visually determine that no dust, debris, or deteriorated paint remains;
(2) remove all plastic sheeting from the floor and window and door openings and dispose of plastic sheeting as lead-contaminated waste;
(3) clean all surfaces in the containment using a vacuum with a HEPA filter and wet wipe and clean a second time using a vacuum with a HEPA filter or clean using any other EPA-documented methodology under part 4761.2000, subpart 15, item K;
(4) clean all floors in adjacent areas used as pathways to the containment and any areas used to store equipment and waste materials. Cleaning must be conducted using a vacuum with a HEPA filter and wet wipe or using any other EPA-documented methodology under part 4761.2000, subpart 15, item K;
(5) if windows or doors were treated or replaced and the plastic sheeting on the exterior was breached, wet wipe that side of the window or door or clean using any other EPA-documented methodology under part 4761.2000, subpart 15, item K;
(6) reinspect all areas referenced in subitems (1) to (5). If visible dust or debris is observed, the cleaning procedures under subitems (3) to (5) must be repeated until no visible dust or debris remains;
(7) if paint was removed from building components, paint or seal the surfaces;
(8) remove all remaining plastic sheeting and dispose of it as lead-contaminated waste and inspect the areas and items for dust and debris. If dust or debris is observed, surfaces must be cleaned using a vacuum with a HEPA filter; and
(9) conduct clearance inspections according to part 4761.2670.
B. A wet/dry vacuum may be used instead of a vacuum with a HEPA filter under this subpart, but must be used only to collect wash and rinse water from hard-surface floors. A wet/dry vacuum may not be used to vacuum a dry floor surface, ground surface, or carpeting.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Minn. R. 4761 § 4761.2645 establishes detailed procedural requirements for lead hazard reduction work on large interior painted surfaces in Minnesota—specifically, surfaces exceeding ten percent of trim area around doors, windows, or small components, or more than two square feet per room on other surfaces. The rule covers every phase of the work, from setting up containment barriers and restricting HVAC systems, to daily and final cleaning using HEPA-filtered vacuums and wet-wiping methods, to conducting a clearance inspection before residents are allowed back into treated areas. Residents must stay out of the work area while work is ongoing, and warning signs must be posted at all entries to the residence and containment zones.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on September 30, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Property owners who undertake or oversee lead hazard reduction work covered by Minn. R. 4761 § 4761.2645 are generally expected to ensure that containment is fully prepared before work begins—including restricting HVAC systems, covering floors with at least six-mil plastic sheeting, and sealing all vents and openings. Compliant operators also provide proper decontamination facilities for workers, conduct thorough daily and final cleaning using HEPA-filtered vacuums and wet-wiping, and arrange for a clearance inspection before residents return to the treated space. The rule also requires that the commissioner be granted access to the work site during regulated lead work, as provided under Minnesota Statutes, section 144.99, subdivision 2.

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

For Tenants

Under Minn. R. 4761 § 4761.2645, residents have a right not to be present in the residence while covered lead hazard reduction work is ongoing, and they may not re-enter the containment area until all work is finished, a clearance inspection has been conducted, and dust sample results meet the applicable standards. Residents who are allowed to return overnight must be provided lead-safe passage to a bathroom, at least one living area, and an entry and egress route. Tenants who believe these protections are not being followed may contact the Minnesota Department of Health, consult a tenant-rights organization, or review the access and enforcement provisions under Minnesota Statutes, section 144.99, subdivision 2 for further context on how the rule is administered.

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 30, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Sep 30, 2026
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References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

Minn. Stat. § 144.99
Not yet ingested
Minn. R. 4761.2670
Not yet ingested
Minn. R. 4761.2510
Not yet ingested
Minn. R. 4761.2615
Not yet ingested
Minn. R. 4761.2000
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References In

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Related Rules

§ 745.323
§ 745.323 Definitions.
§ 745.326
§ 745.326 Renovation: State and Tribal program requirements.
§ 35.140
§ 35.140 Prohibited methods of paint removal.

Source Information

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