WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency published a proposed rulemaking in March 2026 that would significantly update the Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule, expanding its scope to cover additional property types and increasing training and recordkeeping requirements for contractors.
The proposed rule would extend lead-safe work practice requirements to commercial properties and public buildings built before 1978, in addition to the residential properties currently covered. The EPA estimates that the expansion would affect approximately 400,000 additional renovation projects annually.
The proposed update would also require contractors to use a new EPA-approved lead test kit before beginning any renovation work in a pre-1978 structure, replacing the current option of assuming lead is present. The EPA says the change will improve accuracy and reduce unnecessary precautions in structures that do not actually contain lead-based paint.
Training requirements under the proposed rule would increase from eight hours to 16 hours for initial certification, with annual refresher training replacing the current five-year recertification cycle. The EPA says the increased training reflects advances in lead-safe work practices and new understanding of lead exposure pathways.
The restoration industry has 60 days to submit comments on the proposed rule. The Restoration Industry Association and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry are expected to submit detailed comments addressing the cost impact on small contractors.
