Most houses in Detroit were built before 1978, the year lead was banned from house paint in the United States. That makes lead the first rule to understand before any scraping or sanding here. This page also covers permits, homeowner associations and historic districts.
This page is general information for Michigan property owners. It is not legal advice. Check the current rules with the agency named, or with a lawyer, before you rely on them.
My house was built before 1978. Do I need to worry about lead paint?
Yes. A house built before 1978 may have lead-based paint, and the older the house, the more likely it is. In Detroit, where so much housing dates from the 1910s to the 1950s, it is safest to assume lead is present until a test says otherwise.
Lead paint that is intact and covered by newer paint is a low risk. The danger is dust and chips made when it is sanded, scraped or burned off, and from windows and doors that rub. Young children and pregnant women are most at risk.
How do I know if old paint contains lead?
The only way to know if paint contains lead is to test it. A certified lead inspector or risk assessor can test the surfaces and give you a report.
Nationally, a lead inspection costs $300 to $700 and a risk assessment costs $500 to $1,500, by figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. Those are not our quotes. Home test kits are sold for $20 to $30, but a professional test is more reliable. In Michigan, lead inspectors and risk assessors are certified by the state health department, MDHHS.
Can you paint over lead paint, or must it be removed?
Lead paint that is intact can usually be painted over. It does not have to be removed just because it is there. A fresh coat of sound paint keeps it sealed.
Peeling or damaged lead paint is different. It has to be made safe using lead-safe methods before repainting. Permanent treatments such as encapsulation with an approved coating, enclosure or full removal count as lead abatement. In Michigan, abatement must be done by firms and workers certified by MDHHS under the state Lead Abatement Act. A renovation certificate does not cover abatement work.
What certification does a painter need for pre-1978 homes?
A painter who is paid to disturb paint in a pre-1978 home must work for an EPA certified firm and follow the federal Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, known as the RRP rule. The same applies to child care facilities and preschools built before 1978.
- The firm must be certified by the EPA and a trained certified renovator must be assigned to the job.
- The owner and occupants must be given the EPA booklet Renovate Right before work starts.
- The work area must be contained, and certain methods such as open-flame burning are banned.
- The area must be cleaned and checked at the end.
- Small jobs are exempt: 6 square feet or less of painted surface per room inside, or 20 square feet or less outside, with no window replacement or demolition.
Michigan is not one of the states that runs its own RRP program, so the EPA administers and enforces the rule here. Ask any painter you are considering to show their EPA firm certificate. Ask us how the rule applies to your job.
Do lead rules change the price?
Yes, lead-safe work usually raises the price of a job that disturbs old paint. Containment, slower scraping methods, special vacuums and clean-up all add labor. No national figure is published for that added cost on a paint job.
Full abatement is a separate and larger cost. The national figures are $6 to $17 per square foot for lead paint removal or encapsulation, or $3,000 to $17,000 on average, as published by HomeGuide for 2026. Those are not our quotes, and abatement is done by state-certified abatement firms.
Who is responsible for lead paint disclosure on a rental?
The landlord is. Federal law requires landlords and sellers of most housing built before 1978 to disclose any known lead-based paint and hazards before a lease or sale is signed, and to give the tenant or buyer the federal lead safety pamphlet.
Detroit adds its own rule for rentals. To get a Certificate of Compliance from the city's building department, BSEED, the owner of a rental built before 1978 must complete a lead inspection and risk assessment, hire a lead certified contractor if hazards are found, and submit the lead reports. Landlords should check current steps with BSEED.
Do I need a permit to paint the outside of my house?
In most cases no. Painting is treated as ordinary maintenance, and a building permit is rarely needed to paint a house in Detroit or the nearby towns.
A permit can come into it when the job grows beyond paint: structural porch repairs, new siding, or scaffolding or a lift that stands on the public sidewalk or street. If you are unsure, the city or township building department will tell you. In Detroit that is BSEED.
Do I need HOA approval to change my exterior colour, and can the HOA fine me?
If your home is in an HOA or condominium association, you probably need its approval before changing an exterior color. Whether it can fine you depends on its own recorded documents, and many do allow fines or can require you to repaint.
Older Detroit neighborhoods rarely have an HOA of that kind, but condominiums and newer subdivisions in towns such as Farmington Hills, Livonia and Westland often do. Read the bylaws, get approval in writing and keep it. We can give you color samples and product details for the application.
Are there paint rules in a historic district?
Yes. In a Detroit local historic district, the Historic District Commission must approve a new exterior paint color. Its paint guidelines say that Commission approval is necessary when painting with a new color, and is not required for touch-up painting with the exact same color.
The Commission uses a set of color systems matched to the style of the building, and its staff can approve repainting of previously painted areas. Districts include Boston-Edison, Indian Village, Palmer Woods, Sherwood Forest, Rosedale Park and many more. Contact the Commission staff before you buy paint. Do not paint brick or stone that has never been painted without asking first.
Do I need a permit to paint a storefront or commercial building?
Painting a storefront or commercial building does not usually need a building permit, but related work often does. Signs, awnings, murals and anything set up on the public sidewalk are regulated separately.
In Detroit, check with BSEED before work on a commercial building, and with the Historic District Commission if the building is in a local historic district. In the suburbs, ask the city building department. We can plan the painting around whatever approval is needed.
Not sure what applies to your house? Call or text (313) 251-3869.