Yes. Under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be an EPA-certified firm, with a certified renovator directing the work. New Hampshire does not run its own version of the program, so the federal rule applies here directly. If your home is that old, ask for the firm's EPA certification number before anyone sands, scrapes or cuts into the paint.
Why does lead-safe work matter so much in New Hampshire?
Because so much of the housing is old. According to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, more than half of the state's homes were built before 1978: over 284,000 houses and apartments. More than 32,250 young children live in those older homes, and in 2024 more than 1,000 young New Hampshire children were poisoned by lead.
In NH, children are almost always poisoned by lead that is found in dust from lead paint in older homes.
DHHS lists the usual sources of that dust: peeling or chipping paint, repair projects that disturb old paint, old painted windows and doors rubbing as they open and close, painted floors and stairs, and the soil next to the foundation. Painting prep can touch several of those at once.
What does the EPA's RRP rule require?
The rule covers paid renovation, repair and painting work that disturbs paint in housing built before 1978, and in childcare facilities and preschools of that age. It applies to every kind of firm, including a one-person business.
A certified firm has to follow the lead-safe work practices in federal regulation, 40 CFR 745.85. In plain terms, the firm must:
- Post warning signs and keep occupants and anyone not doing the work out of the work area.
- Contain the work: remove or cover furniture, close and cover the ducts in the area, and cover the floor at least six feet beyond the work.
- Avoid the practices the rule prohibits, including open-flame burning of painted surfaces, power sanding or grinding without a HEPA-shrouded attachment, and heat guns at 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter.
- Clean the work area thoroughly when the work is done.
Before the work starts, the firm must also give the owner and occupants EPA's Renovate Right pamphlet, which explains lead hazards during renovation.
Does the rule apply if I paint my own house?
Generally, no. The EPA says the RRP rule does not apply to homeowners working on their own pre-1978 home. It does apply if you rent out all or part of the home, run a childcare center in it, or are fixing it up to resell. Even when the rule does not apply, the EPA recommends hiring a lead-safe certified contractor for work that disturbs old paint.
This guide does not explain how to remove or sand old paint yourself, on purpose. If you are thinking about that work in a pre-1978 home, start with EPA's own guidance and talk with a certified firm first.
Who does the rule cover?
- Situation
- You hire a painter for a home built before 1978
- Does the RRP rule apply?
- Yes, when the work disturbs paint
- What to ask for
- The firm's EPA certification number and a certified renovator on the job
- Situation
- You paint your own pre-1978 home and live in it
- Does the RRP rule apply?
- Generally no
- What to ask for
- EPA still recommends a lead-safe certified contractor
- Situation
- You rent out all or part of a pre-1978 home
- Does the RRP rule apply?
- Yes
- What to ask for
- Certified firms and renovators for work on the rental
- Situation
- Six square feet of paint or less per room, inside
- Does the RRP rule apply?
- Exempt as minor work, unless a prohibited practice is used
- What to ask for
- How the firm will contain the dust anyway
- Situation
- A home built in 1978 or later
- Does the RRP rule apply?
- No
- What to ask for
- Ordinary careful prep and cleanup
| Situation | Does the RRP rule apply? | What to ask for |
|---|---|---|
| You hire a painter for a home built before 1978 | Yes, when the work disturbs paint | The firm's EPA certification number and a certified renovator on the job |
| You paint your own pre-1978 home and live in it | Generally no | EPA still recommends a lead-safe certified contractor |
| You rent out all or part of a pre-1978 home | Yes | Certified firms and renovators for work on the rental |
| Six square feet of paint or less per room, inside | Exempt as minor work, unless a prohibited practice is used | How the firm will contain the dust anyway |
| A home built in 1978 or later | No | Ordinary careful prep and cleanup |
The minor repair exemption also covers 20 square feet or less on the exterior. It is smaller than it sounds: most painting jobs with real prep go well past those areas, and the prohibited practices are banned at any size.
How do you check a painter's EPA certification?
Ask for the firm's certification number and look it up on EPA's lead-safe firm locator. New Hampshire is not one of the 15 states authorized to run their own program (Massachusetts and Vermont are), so firm certifications here come from the EPA. A firm certification costs $300 and lasts five years, so check the expiration date as well as the name.
- The firm name on the certification matches the company on your quote.
- The certification is current.
- A certified renovator will be assigned to your job.
- The quote describes containment and cleanup, not only painting.
We are an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm NAT-F349471-1, and you can look us up on the same locator.
What does New Hampshire add for rentals and childcare?
Since July 1, 2024, state law (RSA 130-A:5-d) requires a Lead-Safe Certificate from a New Hampshire Risk Assessor before anyone moves in to a pre-1978 building newly converted to a rental, or to a childcare facility receiving its first state license. It does not apply to existing rentals or to owner-occupied homes.
Frequently asked questions
- Do painters in New Hampshire need EPA certification?
- Yes, for paid work that disturbs paint in a home built before 1978. New Hampshire does not run its own program, so the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule applies directly, and the firm must be EPA certified.
- How do I know if my house has lead paint?
- Any home built before 1978 may have lead paint under newer coats. A certified inspector or risk assessor can test it. Until then, treat older painted surfaces as if they contain lead, and hire a certified firm for any work that disturbs them.
- Does lead-safe painting change the quote?
- Containment, cleanup and cleaning checks add work, so a quote for a pre-1978 home should list them as part of the scope. Ask each painter to describe their lead-safe steps in writing so you can compare quotes fairly.
- What is the Renovate Right pamphlet?
- It is EPA's guide to lead hazards during renovation. Certified firms must give it to the owners and occupants of pre-1978 housing before the work starts.
Sources
- US EPA, Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program (updated June 17, 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- US EPA, Renovation, Repair and Painting Program: Contractors (updated March 31, 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- US EPA, RRP Firm Certification (updated May 27, 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- 40 CFR 745.85, Work practice standards (Cornell Legal Information Institute) (opens in a new tab)
- NH Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (opens in a new tab)
- NH Department of Health and Human Services, Lead information for property owners and landlords (opens in a new tab)
- US EPA, Lead-safe certified firm locator (opens in a new tab)
