Cal. Civ. Code § 5:17-6.3
Enclosure methods
Operative Text
(a) All materials used for enclosure shall comply with all applicable provisions of the Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23). (b) Drywall, fiberboard or its functional equivalent may be used for interior wall enclosure. Moisture-resistant greenboard shall be used in damp areas. The following steps shall be followed for interior wall enclosure intended to abate lead hazards. 1. Turn off and disconnect all electrical circuits present in the area to be enclosed; 2. Prior to enclosure, repair all structurally unsound substrates and water leaks that will affect the integrity of the enclosure; 3. Use construction adhesive to glue the drywall in place; 4. Screw the drywall to the studs behind the existing wall. Screws shall be long enough to go through the drywall, the plaster, the wire mesh or lath, and bite an inch into the stud or structure. Furring strips or hat channels may be used as needed; 5. Use extension rings to bring out electrical devices flush with the new drywall and retrofit any HVAC registers; 6. Wherever the drywall meets wood framing or any other component, including electrical devices, pipes and HVAC registers, the seams shall be sealed with a silicon caulk or other sealant that has at least a 10 year warranty; 7. Tape and finish the drywall; 8. Enclosures installed shall not protrude beyond the depth of door or window frames or other trim pieces; and 9. If paneling is used to enclose surfaces painted with lead-based paint, all joints and edges shall be fully supported to prevent flexing that might compromise the seal of the seams. (c) The following steps shall be followed for interior ceiling enclosure intended to abate lead hazards: 1. Turn off and disconnect all electrical circuits present in the area to be enclosed; 2. Repair all structurally unsound substrates and water leaks prior to enclosure; 3. Screw a metal hat channel or furring channel to the plaster. Screws shall be long enough to penetrate the hat channel, plaster or other substrate and wire mesh holding the plaster and to bite firmly into the joist; 4. Affix the drywall to the hat channel; 5. Use extension rings to bring out electrical devices flush with the new drywall and retrofit any HVAC registers; 6. Wherever the drywall meets wood framing or any other component, including electrical devices, pipes and HVAC registers, the seams shall be sealed with a silicon caulk or other sealant that has at least a 10 year warranty; 7. Tape and finish the drywall; 8. Where there is a cast-in-place concrete ceiling, the certification of an architect or engineer as to whether the existing ceiling will hold the additional weight of the enclosure shall be required; and 9. Acoustical lay-in panels (drop ceilings) shall not be used for lead-based paint enclosures. (d) The following steps shall be followed for the enclosure of floors intended to abate lead hazards: 1. Remove dirt and loose paint in accordance with the requirements of this chapter; 2. Remove shoe molding, if any, along the baseboard; 3. Cover old flooring using one-half inch or thicker plywood or other equivalent underlayment. All plywood sheets shall be installed flush with each other. Gaps shall be filled with flash patching cement. All nails shall be hammered flush and all dirt HEPA vacuumed thoroughly; i. When the plywood is to be covered by vinyl floor covering, a row of nails or screws shall be run through the old flooring a few inches apart in a straight line over each joist prior to putting down the plywood. ii. When the plywood is to be covered by carpeting, a bead of caulk shall be run at the edge of every sheet of plywood before it is set in place and all gaps shall be filled with flash patching cement. iii. When the floor to be enclosed is poured slab or cast-in-place concrete, the surface shall be predrilled to accept each screw that anchors the plywood enclosure. A structural engineer shall be consulted for situations other than slab on grade construction; and 4. Joints at vertical surfaces shall be covered by quarter-round or equivalent molding. Metal thresholds shall be placed at all doorways after the vinyl flooring or carpeting is installed. (e) The following steps shall be followed for the enclosure of stairs intended to abate lead hazards: 1. Remove dirt and loose paint in accordance with the requirements of this chapter; and 2. Completely cover steps with vinyl treads and risers. The vinyl shall be stapled and glued with floor adhesive. Long staples shall be used to reinforce the tread cover and at the end of the vinyl that butts up tight to the wood riser of the next step. i. Metal bull nosing may be used in place of vinyl at wear points. ii. Plywood may be used to cover step risers and squared off treads. Plywood may also be used for additional protection, supplementing the vinyl covers. iii. If the steps to be enclosed are pre-cast concrete, the surface shall be pre-drilled to accept each screw that anchors the enclosure. (f) The following steps shall be followed for miscellaneous interior building component enclosure intended to abate lead hazards: 1. Turn off and disconnect all electrical circuits present in the area to be enclosed; 2. Pipes shall be enclosed with casting tape which shall be applied so that it overlaps itself or they shall be enclosed with a drywall box following the procedure described in (a) above; 3. Interior or exterior door frames shall be enclosed using preformed metal door buck covers or their equivalent. All seams shall be caulked; 4. Knee walls, painted structural supports and trim such as baseboards and other items shall be enclosed with plywood or its equivalent. All plywood shall be cut to fit tightly, sealed with adhesive and nailed. All seams shall be caulked; and 5. Windows shall be enclosed using snap-in aluminum or vinyl tracks. Track covers shall be pressed into a bead of caulk at each seam. i. Painted sashes may be planed to remove lead-based paint and reinstalled. ii. Friction surfaces on windows shall not be painted. iii. Exterior window sills shall be covered with metal or other material cut to fit and screwed into place. The material shall be pressed into a bead of caulk at the seams. (g) The following steps shall be followed for exterior wall enclosure intended to abate lead hazards: 1. Turn off and disconnect all electrical circuits present in the area to be enclosed; 2. Repair all structurally unsound substrates and water leaks prior to enclosure; 3. Cover all exterior painted surfaces with rigid or cloth dust barriers. i. Do not cover vents with cloth or other covering; and 4. Install vinyl or aluminum siding, any board product intended for exterior use, natural or synthetic brick or stone veneers or stucco. All seams shall be caulked and back caulked. i. Aluminum coil stock may be used on soffits, facia, barge board, decorative crown moldings, door and window frames, parapets and other moldings. All seams shall be caulked and back caulked. (h) Other enclosure products may be used provided that they meet the performance requirements of this chapter.
N.J.A.C. § 5:17-6.3 establishes detailed technical requirements for enclosing lead-based paint hazards in residential properties across New Jersey. The regulation specifies step-by-step procedures for walls, ceilings, floors, stairs, exterior surfaces, and miscellaneous building components, requiring that all materials and methods meet the state's Uniform Construction Code. Enclosure methods must achieve a durable, sealed barrier — using materials such as drywall, plywood, vinyl, or siding — with particular attention to sealing seams, addressing structural deficiencies, and managing electrical and HVAC systems before work begins. Alternative enclosure products are permitted only if they satisfy the chapter's performance standards.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers undertaking lead hazard abatement through enclosure under N.J.A.C. § 5:17-6.3 generally ensure that all preparatory steps are completed before installation begins, including repairing water leaks, addressing structurally unsound substrates, and disconnecting electrical circuits in affected areas. Compliant operators select materials appropriate to the surface type — for example, moisture-resistant greenboard in damp areas, and sealants carrying at least a 10-year warranty at all seams — and follow the surface-specific sequences laid out in subsections (b) through (g). Documentation of material specifications and installation methods is typically maintained to demonstrate that the enclosure meets both the procedural requirements of § 5:17-6.3 and the broader Uniform Construction Code standards referenced in subsection (a).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.J.A.C. § 5:17-6.3 sets out the standards that must be met when a landlord uses enclosure as the method to address lead-based paint hazards in a rental unit, covering everything from wall and ceiling work to floors, stairs, and exterior surfaces. Tenants have a right to expect that any enclosure work performed in their home follows these prescribed procedures, including proper sealing of seams, use of warranted sealants, and completion of necessary repairs before enclosure begins. If there are concerns that enclosure work was performed improperly or that lead hazards remain, tenants may consider contacting the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization, or raising the issue as a potential housing code violation through available complaint channels.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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