Painting a pre-1978 Atlanta home: what lead-safe work looks like

CRBy Conrad Redmond, Painting Guides Editor. Updated September 2026

When the rule applies

The federal rule covers housing and child-occupied facilities, such as day care centers, built before 1978. It applies to paid renovation, repair and painting work that disturbs painted surfaces above small thresholds: more than 6 square feet per room inside, or more than 20 square feet on the exterior. Window replacement is always covered.

Georgia is one of the states that runs its own authorized version of the program, so the certification and records come through the state program rather than directly through EPA.

Why it matters in Atlanta

Intown neighborhoods are full of houses built long before 1978. Grant Park, Inman Park, Cabbagetown and Ormewood Park date largely from the 1880s through the first half of the 1900s, and published Atlanta guidance notes that pre-1940 houses in neighborhoods like Druid Hills require lead-safe scraping and containment so paint flakes do not end up in garden beds.

Most of that old paint is safe while it is intact under newer coats. It becomes a hazard when it is sanded, scraped or burned into dust and chips, which is exactly what painting prep does. That is why the rule is about the work, not the house.

What lead-safe work looks like

On a covered job, the work area is set up so dust and chips stay contained and are cleaned up before anyone moves back in:

• The homeowner receives the Renovate Right pamphlet before work begins.
• The work area is sealed with plastic sheeting; outside, ground sheeting catches chips under the work.
• Methods that create heavy dust or fumes are avoided, such as open-flame burning and power sanding without dust collection.
• Wet scraping and HEPA-shrouded tools keep dust down.
• Debris is bagged and removed daily.
• The area is cleaned and checked with a cleaning verification before the plastic comes down.

Records you should expect

Covered work comes with paperwork, and it is a useful sign that the rule is being followed. Before the job, the contractor gives you the Renovate Right pamphlet and asks you to sign a confirmation that you received it. Warning signs are posted at the work area. At the end, the area is cleaned and checked against a cleaning verification card before it is handed back.

Firms doing this work also keep records of the job for a set period. If none of this paperwork appears on a pre-1978 home where painted surfaces are being scraped or sanded, ask why.

What to ask any painter

EPA's own advice to homeowners is to ask for proof of certification before work begins on a pre-1978 home. Ask whether the firm is certified under the Georgia program, who the certified renovator on the job will be, and how the work area will be contained and cleaned.

Ask how the quote handles it, too. Lead-safe setup adds time, and a quote for an old house that does not mention it is either missing a step or assuming the rule does not apply. See our guide on choosing a painting contractor for the rest of the checklist.

What you can do before the crew arrives

Move furniture, toys and belongings out of rooms being worked on where you can, keep children and pets away from the work area until cleanup is verified, and do not dry-sand or scrape old paint yourself in the meantime. If you are unsure whether your paint contains lead, a certified inspector or a lab test can tell you before work is planned.

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