(a) Presumption and Policy. Any residential rental unit originally constructed prior to January 1, 1978 is presumed to have lead-based paint. It is the policy of the City to help prevent the poisoning of children by requiring that the presence of deteriorated lead-based paint on the interior and exterior of residential rental structures built before January 1, 1978 be identified and be correctly addressed by reducing and controlling lead-based paint hazards which may be present, in order to prevent human exposure to these hazards. Therefore, it is the further policy of the City to require all residential rental units in the City constructed prior to January 1, 1978 to have lead-safe certification no later than March 1, 2023.
(b) Lead-Safe Certification. Beginning March 1, 2021, all residential rental units constructed before January 1, 1978 shall have lead-safe certification from the Director according to a quarterly schedule established by the Director, but in no case later than March 1, 2023.
A lead-safe certification is valid for two (2) years from the date of issuance. No earlier than thirty (30) days prior to expiration, an owner shall re-apply for a lead-safe certification by providing the necessary documentation as set forth in this section.
(1) To obtain a lead-safe certification, an owner of a residential rental unit constructed prior to January 1, 1978 shall provide to the Director a copy of a clearance examination report or lead risk assessment, completed pursuant to applicable Ohio laws and rules, within ninety (90) days prior to the date of submission evidencing that lead hazards were not identified in the unit.
(2) For a structure constructed prior to January 1, 1978 that contains five (5) or more residential rental units to obtain a lead-safe certification, an owner shall provide to the Director a copy of a report, completed pursuant to applicable law within ninety (90) days prior to the date of submission, that lead hazards were not identified in the minimum number of units tested relative to the total number of units in the structure, according to Federal HUD Guidelines, 2012 edition, as may be amended from time to time.
(c) Exemption. To be exempt from the lead-safe certification requirement set forth in this section, the owner of a residential rental unit originally constructed prior to January 1, 1978 shall submit a copy of a comprehensive lead risk assessment and paint inspection report, issued by a lead risk assessor verifying that the unit has been abated of lead hazards in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 745.227 and applicable state law. The report shall have been completed within twenty (20) years prior to the date of submission to the Director.
(d) An owner of a residential rental unit is not required to obtain a lead-safe certification so long as the unit is unoccupied and the owner does not receive rent or anything else of value for the unit. The owner shall file an affidavit, in the form prescribed by the Director, that the unit is unoccupied and that the owner does not receive rent or anything else of value for the unit, which affidavit shall be filed annually so long as the unit remains unoccupied and the owner does not receive rent or anything else of value for the unit.
(e) Affirmative Defense. It is an affirmative defense to a charge for a violation of this section that the rental unit is unoccupied and the owner of the rental unit does not receive rent or anything else of value for the unit.
(f) Conflict of Interest. Any clearance technician, lead risk assessor or lead inspector who performs a clearance examination or lead risk assessment for purposes of this section shall not be:
(1) the owner or an immediate family member, agent or employee of the owner;
(2) part of a company or associated with a company that is directly or beneficially owned, controlled or managed by the owner, or by an immediate family member, agent or employee of the owner;
(3) a person hired by or under contract with the owner to manage or maintain the owner's residential rental unit or units as directed by the owner;
(4) a person who has been authorized by the owner to manage or maintain the owner's residential rental unit or units on the owner's behalf; or
(5) a person who has a financial interest in the laboratory results of dust sampling or testing, or in the determination of whether lead hazards are identified in the owner's residential rental unit or units.
For purposes of this division "immediate family member" means a spouse residing in the owner's household and any dependent child.
(Ord. No. 747-2019. Passed 7-24-19, eff. 7-26-19)