You can request to be excused from Lead Safe Certification if your property:

• Was Not Constructed before January 1, 1978.

• Is Currently Vacant and you are not receiving any rent through government subsidies or assistance programs

• You are living in the property (Owner Occupied) Please provide the unit number on the form. 

Download the Lead Safe Certification Exemption Affidavit and upload to the Permit Portal

What it is: 

 A lead risk assessment report is a written check‑up of a home that shows: 

• If there is lead‑based paint, 
• If any lead hazards are present
• What steps are needed to fix the hazards and keep people safe. 

It’s created by a licensed lead risk assessor, who inspects the home and tests paint, dust, and sometimes soil.

What a report usually includes: 

• Basic property information: the address, type of home, year built, and who owns or lives in it.
• Summary of what the assessor found: a simple overview of where lead hazards were found or if the home passed. 
• Paint testing results : which surfaces were tested (windows, doors, trim, walls) and whether the paint contains lead. 
• Dust wipe results: lab results showing if dust on floors or window sills has unsafe lead levels. 
• Soil test results: if soil was tested, the report shows whether the yard has unsafe lead levels.
• Photos of hazards: pictures of peeling paint, damaged areas, or other hazards. 
• List of lead hazards: a clear list of each problem area, written in plain language (for example: “Peeling paint on window frame in bedroom”). 
• Recommended fixes: what repairs or cleaning steps are needed to make the home safe, such as repainting, replacing windows, or deep cleaning. 
• Timeline and next steps: what the owner must do, by when, and how to stay in compliance.
• Clearance requirements: explains that after repairs, the home must pass a clearance test to show it’s safe again.

Download a Risk Assessment Report Template to get started 

Rental property owners with units built before 1978 must obtain a Lead Safe Certification or an exemption. 

• Owner-occupied properties do not need to be certified.

There is no application fee to apply for the Lead Safe Certification.

The easiest way to search in the Permit Portal is by the Parcel number. For help, use this Search Guide.

• From the property owner
• You can do a search in the Permit Portal without an account

You can search the Citizen Access Portal. No account is required. It's easiest to search by a parcel number.

• Download the search tutorial
• Watch the video tutorial

You will need your parcel number and the year built from Cuyahoga County MyPlace

• You can search by address or owner to find your parcel number.
• Pro tip: Use this time to find the year your property was built at the same time.

• Risk Assessors usually submit the application. Be sure to include the property owner's email so they receive all communications and a copy of the certificate
• Property owners maybe also submit if they have all of the documentation.

The City begins the process of lead certification by reviewing a lead risk assessment. Risk assessors should use this template, which is adapted from the Ohio Department of Health lead risk assessment form, to ensure that their information is complete.

Only complete submissions will be considered for compliance with the Lead Safe Certification Law. The Department of Building & Housing will respond to incomplete applications by citing the deficiencies and providing a limited amount of time to correct the deficiency.