Most houses in Pittsburgh were built before 1978, the year lead paint was banned for homes in the United States. That makes lead a routine part of painting here, not a rare problem.
This page is general information for Pennsylvania property owners. It is not legal advice. The EPA, the state and your own municipality decide what applies to your property.
My house was built before 1978. Do I need to worry about lead paint?
Yes, you should assume lead paint may be present in a home built before 1978. Intact lead paint under newer coats is not the main danger. The danger is dust and chips made when old paint is sanded, scraped or cut, and paint that is peeling.
Lead is most harmful to young children and pregnant women. Windows, doors, trim, porches and stairs are the usual places it is found, because those were painted with hard oil-based paints. Pittsburgh's housing is old, so many homes here have it.
How do I know if old paint contains lead?
You find out by testing. A certified lead inspector or risk assessor can test the paint, and that is the only way to know for sure. Home test kits exist, but a professional test is more reliable.
Nationally, a lead inspection costs $300 to $700 and a risk assessment $500 to $1,500, by HomeGuide's 2026 figures. Those are not our prices. The Allegheny County Health Department publishes lead resources for residents. The county's Lead-Safe Homes Program offers free lead-paint testing and repairs for households that meet its income and family rules.
Can you paint over lead paint, or must it be removed?
Lead paint that is intact can often be left in place and painted over, and the law does not require removal in an ordinary repaint. Lead paint that is peeling has to be made stable first, using lead-safe methods.
Painting over is not the same as encapsulation. Encapsulation uses a special coating made to seal lead paint. Full removal or permanent sealing is called abatement, and in Pennsylvania abatement work is done by firms and workers certified through the state Department of Labor and Industry. Nationally, encapsulation is listed at $6 to $10 per square foot and removal at $10 to $17.
What certification does a painter need for homes built before 1978?
Under the federal Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, a firm paid to disturb paint in a pre-1978 home must be certified by the EPA as a lead-safe firm, and the work must be led by a certified renovator. This covers sole proprietors too.
Pennsylvania does not run its own version of this program, so the EPA administers and enforces it here. You can ask any contractor to show the firm's certificate, and you can look a firm up on the EPA website. Ask us about lead-safe practices for your job when you call.
Do lead rules change the price?
Yes, lead-safe work can raise the price, because it adds set-up, containment and clean-up time. Plastic sheeting goes down, dust is controlled, and the area is cleaned and checked at the end.
The effect is largest on exterior scraping and on window and trim work. It is small on a job where sound walls are simply washed and repainted. No national figure is published for the added cost on a paint job, so we show it in the written quote.
Who is responsible for lead paint disclosure on a rental?
The landlord is. Under the federal Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule, landlords, sellers, property managers and real estate agents share the duty for housing built before 1978.
- Disclose any known lead paint or lead hazards.
- Hand over available records and reports.
- Give the tenant or buyer the EPA pamphlet Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home.
- Include the lead warning statement in the lease or contract.
Landlords who hire paid work that disturbs old paint are also covered by the renovation rule above.
Do I need a permit to paint the outside of my house in Pittsburgh?
No. The City of Pittsburgh's list of work that needs no building permit includes painting, papering and similar finish work. The city's Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections (PLI) publishes that list.
There is one important exception, covered in the next answer. Outside the city, each borough and township has its own office. Painting seldom needs a permit anywhere in Allegheny County, but scaffolding or a dumpster on a public sidewalk or street may need its own approval.
Are there paint rules in a historic district?
Yes, in the city's own historic districts. Pittsburgh's permit exemption list states that exterior painting on a locally designated historic structure, or in a locally designated historic district, requires a Certificate of Appropriateness. The Historic Review Commission handles those.
City-designated districts include areas such as the Mexican War Streets, Manchester, Allegheny West and East Carson Street. Check your address with the city before choosing colors. Listing on the National Register of Historic Places is a different thing and does not by itself control paint on a private house. Interior painting is not reviewed.
Do I need HOA approval to change my exterior color, and can the HOA fine me?
If your home is in an HOA or a condominium, you usually need approval before changing an exterior color. The rules are in the association's recorded covenants, and those documents also say what the association can do if you skip the step, which can include fines or an order to repaint.
HOAs are more common in newer suburban plans than in the city. Read your documents, apply in writing and keep the approval. We can give you color names and samples for the application.
Do I need a permit to paint a storefront or commercial building?
Painting a storefront or commercial building does not normally need a building permit in Pittsburgh. The same exemption for painting applies.
Other approvals can still come into it. A building in a city historic district needs a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior painting. New or changed signs have their own permits. Lifts, scaffolds or closed sidewalks in the public right-of-way need permission from the city. A tenant should also get the landlord's written consent.
To talk through a job on an older home, call or text (412) 668-1875.