Monterey County along with other government bodies recognized the health risk that household lead poses to the population. To alleviate the risk to our citizens the county designed the Lead Mitigation Program. The cost of the program is funded by a settlement with businesses that were sources of the Lead Hazard found in houses.

The main goal of the program is to eliminate Lead hazards from homes.

This program addresses the problem of lead paint on structural components such as windows and doors. We help renters and homeowners by providing free services to remove the danger of lead paint from homes built before 1978.Lead risk reduction testing and services are provided to Monterey County residents. The health department will work with a licensed construction contractor who will repair and remedy lead hazards.

• If your home was built before 1978.
• If paint in your home is peeling, cracking, chipping or deteriorating.
• Priority to homes of low-income families.
• If in the house live children under the age of six years
• If a pregnant woman is living in the house

The Monterey County Health Department is using a litigation fund to help the community. Services are free of charge to improve the environmental health of your home.

No, but it is strongly recommended to have it removed because of the health hazards posed to children and pregnant women.

Houses built before 1978 are likely to contain some lead-based paint, disturbances such as chipping, cracks and peeling can be dangerous.

Lead-based paints were banned for use in housing in 1978. Houses built before 1978 are likely to contain some lead-based paint. Deterioration or disturbance of lead-based paint can cause problems.

A certified Lead Assessor Inspector will conduct testing.

Repairs take only a couple of days to a couple of weeks. The time depends on the size and amount of lead paint hazards found in your home.

• Initiate an application via email, phone, or online at www.mtyhd.org/LLMP.
• The department of Environmental health will contact you in writing after the application has been processed. If your home is considered eligible, an inspector will schedule an appointment.
• On the day of the appointment a house assessment will be conducted by a Lead Assessor Inspector to evaluate lead-based paint found on the property.
• Additionally, if needed, arrangements of temporary housing will be made for scheduled days of repair.
• On repair days certified contractors will work on your property at no cost to you.
• A final inspection called “ clearance “is conducted by the Department of Environmental Health to ensure paint remediation is completed.

Walls, windows, doors, floors, structural components, and base boards are areas that lead is found both in the interior and exterior of a home.

Lead-based paint is most dangerous when it is deteriorating—peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, etc. For your own safety, you may want to consider treating any lead paint–covered surfaces, if you have children living in your home or visiting frequently.

In 1978, the federal government banned consumer uses of lead-based paint. Lead paint is still present in millions of homes, sometimes under layers of new paint.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that roughly 35 percent of U.S. homes contain some lead-based paint.

• Children under the age of 6
• Pregnant women