Cleveland Proposes Changes to Lead-Safe Ordinance: What Housing Providers Need to Know

Cleveland is proposing updates to its Lead-Safe Certificate program, which generally requires rental properties built before 1978 to obtain certification. Ordinance 1244-2026 would revise the city’s existing rules based on its experience administering the program.

For REALTORS® and housing providers, the proposed changes could affect inspection schedules, compliance costs, and the process for keeping rental properties certified.

What Would Change?

1. Longer certification periods

The proposal would replace the standard two-year certification cycle with longer terms based on a property’s condition, improvements, and testing history:

• 3 years following a passing lead risk assessment or clearance examination.
• 5 years for properties meeting additional requirements for lead-free windows.
• 10 years for qualifying properties based on testing history, construction date, or improvements to certain high-risk components.
• 20 years for properties meeting lead-abatement certification requirements.

The proposal also includes exemptions for certain qualifying lead-free properties and other eligible housing situations. Longer certification periods could reduce repeat inspections and paperwork while recognizing investments in lead safety.

2. New local licensing requirements

Lead inspectors, risk assessors, and clearance technicians would need a Cleveland-issued license, in addition to an Ohio license, for testing used in the city’s certification program. The city could also establish testing rules, review quality-control practices and revoke local licenses.

Housing providers should pay attention to how these requirements affect the availability of qualified professionals, inspection costs, and certification timelines.

3. Changes to inspections and certification

The proposal would clarify when certification periods begin, extend existing two-year certificates by one year, and allow certain existing inspection or clearance documents to be used instead of requiring duplicate testing. Larger buildings could also use specified HUD sampling guidelines rather than testing every unit.

These changes could help reduce duplication, expense, and delays.

4. Stronger tenant-retaliation language

The proposal would expressly prohibit retaliation against tenants who report suspected lead hazards, missing certifications or other alleged housing-code violations. Prohibited actions could include shutting off utilities, reducing services, threatening eviction, refusing to renew a lease or materially changing rental terms because of a report.

Housing providers should understand how these protections would be applied and maintain clear documentation when responding to tenant complaints or making rental decisions.

5. Other administrative updates

The proposal would also update lead-disclosure and notice requirements, remove an outdated vacancy exception, adjust inspection sampling for certain HVAC systems in larger buildings, and make changes to the Lead-Safe Advisory Board and certain rental-registration fee waivers.

ACAR’s Ongoing Involvement

ACAR has been engaged on Cleveland’s Lead-Safe Ordinance prior to it passing in 2019. We have held multiple meetings with the Administration and hold a seat on the Cleveland Lead Safe Coalition, allowing us to share the perspective of REALTORS® and housing providers as the city considers changes to the program.

We support effective lead-safety efforts and believe regulations should be clear, practical, and consistently administered. As this proposal moves forward, ACAR will continue to engage with city leaders and advocate for an approach that protects residents while recognizing the real-world impact on housing providers and the availability of rental housing.

Why It Matters to REALTORS®

Lead safety is important, but how regulations are designed and administered matters, too. Certification requirements can affect the cost of maintaining rental housing, the availability of qualified inspectors, and the ability to keep units in service.

ACAR’s public policy emphasizes reasonable, workable regulations that protect housing quality without creating unnecessary burdens on property owners.

Two areas deserve particular attention as the proposal moves forward: how Cleveland implements local licensing requirements for lead professionals and how the tenant-retaliation provisions will work in practice. Clear standards and consistent enforcement will be important for housing providers, tenants, and real estate professionals alike.

The ordinance is not an adopted law. It was referred to the Health and Human Services and the Arts Committee for further review. Its next meeting is October 19, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.