Lead Safe Work Practice Standards
San Diego Municipal Code § 54.1006
in effect§54.1006 Lead Safe Work Practice Standards
The lead-safe work practice standards in section 54.1006 apply to all activities which disturb or remove paint which is lead-based paint, presumed lead-based paint, or lead-containing paint.
(a) Temporary Relocation Required Unless Occupant Protection Conditions Satisfied
(1) Occupants of a dwelling unit shall be temporarily relocated, before and during the course of activities which disturb or remove paint, to a suitable, decent, safe, comparable, and similarly accessible dwelling unit that does not have a lead hazard, unless:
(A) the activities will not disturb presumed lead-based paint, lead-based paint, lead-contaminated dust or lead-contaminated soil; or
(B) the activities affect only the exterior of the dwelling unit, and windows, doors, ventilation intakes, and other openings in or near the regulated area are sealed during the course of the activities and cleaned afterward, and at least one entrance is maintained free of lead-contaminated dust, lead-contaminated soil, and lead paint contaminants.
(C) the activities in the interior of the dwelling unit will be started and completed during the daytime within eight consecutive hours, the regulated area is contained so as to prevent the release of lead-contaminated dust and lead paint contaminants into other areas, and the activities do not create other safety, health, or environmental hazards (e.g., exposed live electrical wiring, release of toxic fumes, or on-site disposal of hazardous waste); or
(D) the activities in the interior of the dwelling unit will be completed within five consecutive days, the regulated area is secure so as to prevent the release of lead-contaminated dust and lead paint contaminants into other areas, the activities do not create other safety, health, or environmental hazards, and, at the end of work on each day, the regulated area and the area within at least ten feet of the regulated area is cleaned to remove any visible dust or debris, and occupants have safe access to sleeping areas and bathroom and kitchen facilities.
(2) The owner of a dwelling unit and any responsible person who has failed to implement lead-safe work practice standards set forth in section 54.1006, such that relocation is required, are jointly liable for the reasonable relocation costs associated with the temporary relocation of occupants when required under section 54.1006.
(b) Worksite Preparation
(1) The regulated area shall be prepared to prevent the release of dust, and contain any lead containing paint chips, presumed lead-based paint chips, lead-based paint chips, lead-contaminated dust, lead-contaminated soil, and lead paint contaminants from activities which disturb or remove paint in a manner at least as protective as the procedures contained in HUD Guidelines Chapter 8 (“Resident Protection and Worksite Preparation”), as may be amended.
(2) Practices that minimize the spread of lead-contaminated dust, lead containing paint, presumed lead-based paint chips, lead-based paint chips, lead-contaminated soil, and lead paint contaminants shall be used during preparation of the regulated area for work which disturbs or removes paint.
(3) Only those persons employed or otherwise engaged in the conduct of activities which disturb or remove paint which is lead-based paint, presumed lead-based paint, or lead-containing paint or perform clearance inspection activities are permitted to enter a regulated area until after activities which disturb or remove paint which is lead-based paint, presumed lead-based paint, or lead-containing paint have been completed and a clearance inspection as provided in section 54.1006(g) has been completed and demonstrates that the regulated area is not contaminated.
(c) Specialized Cleaning
After activities which disturb or remove paint or abate a lead hazard have been completed, the regulated area shall be cleaned by using:
(1) wet misting and HEPA vacuuming as provided in HUD Guidelines Chapter 14.
(2) wet cleaning with all purpose general detergents or lead-specific detergents and rinsing as provided in HUD Guidelines Chapter 14 (“Cleaning”), as may be amended.
(d) Visible Lead Paint Contaminants
All visible lead paint contaminants shall be cleaned up daily and removed from the regulated areas prior to completion of the activities which disturb or remove paint.
(e) High Risk Paint Disturbance
Any person who disturbs or removes paint which is lead-based paint or presumed lead-based paint in an area greater than defined as a minor repair and maintenance activity, or in any area in the interior or exterior of a dwelling unit to correct a lead hazard shall utilize the lead-safe work practice standards established in 40 C.F.R. § 745.85 and the following:
(1) The cleaning verification process described in 40 C.F.R. §745.85(b)(1)(ii) is optional.
(2) The clearance testing as provided in 40 C.F.R. § 745.85(c) and section 54.1006 is required.
(3) Warning signs shall remain posted until the regulated area has passed a clearance inspection as provided in section 54.1006(g).
(f) Disposal
All waste generated from activities which disturb or remove paint, which contains lead containing paint, lead-based paint or presumed lead-based paint, is deemed hazardous waste under Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, as may be amended, and must be disposed of lawfully.
(g) Lead-Safe Work Practice Clearance Inspection Standards
(1) Visual Inspection. A visual inspection to verify the absence of visible dust or debris must be performed by the person who disturbs or removes paint upon the completion of all activities which disturb or remove paint in excess of two square feet in an interior room or space, or on an exterior surface area in excess of ten square feet, or any window replacement or window treatment under the following circumstances:
(A) where the paint is presumed lead-based paint; or
(B) where lead-based paint testing performed on the paint revealed lead-containing paint.
Where the paint is lead-containing paint but not presumed lead-based paint or lead-based paint, the person who disturbed or removed paint as described in (g)(1) shall record the results of the visual inspection on the form provided by the City (Form ES-127), and shall maintain that form for a minimum of three years and shall make all such forms available to the City of San Diego upon request.
(2) Clearance Inspection. A clearance inspection must be performed upon the completion of all activities which disturb or remove paint in excess of two square feet in an interior room or space, or on an exterior surface area in excess of ten square feet, window replacement or window treatment under the following circumstances and after visual inspection:
(A) where the paint is presumed lead-based paint; or
(B) where lead-based paint testing performed on the paint revealed lead-based paint.
A copy of the CDPH Form 8552 for each clearance inspection shall be submitted to the City of San Diego at
Lead-Safe@sandiego.gov or by mail to:
Environmental Services Department Lead Safety and Healthy Homes Program 9601 Ridgehaven Court, Ste 310 San Diego, CA 92123
Submittal of the 8552 form to the City of San Diego does not satisfy the requirement of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations, as may be amended, for submittal of the 8552 form to the CDPH.
(3) The lead-safe work practice clearance inspection shall be performed only by a Certified Lead Inspector/Assessor or Certified Lead Project Monitor.
(4) All clearance inspection procedures shall be in compliance with 40 Code of Federal Regulations part 745.227, as it may be amended from time to time, and shall meet title 17 of the California Code of Regulations clearance guidelines, as it may be amended from time to time.
(5) A clearance inspection shall either:
(a) Meet the “Recommended Minimum Number and Location of Single-Surface Dust Samples” for the appropriate clearance category in Table 15.1 of Chapter 15 of the 1995 HUD Guidelines (“Clearance”), as may be amended; or
(b) Be conducted in accordance with the procedures described in the most recent revision of Chapter 15 of the HUD Guidelines, as may be amended.
(h) Prohibited Practices
It is unlawful to use prohibited practices while conducting activities which disturb or remove paint including, but not limited to:
(1) acetylene or propane burning and torching;
(2) scraping, sanding, or grinding without containment barriers or a HEPA local vacuum exhaust tool;
(3) hydro-blasting or high-pressure wash without containment barriers;
(4) abrasive blasting or sandblasting without containment barriers or a HEPA local vacuum exhaust tool; or
(5) heat guns operating above 1,100 degrees fahrenheit.
(Amended 4-8-2008 by O-19730 N.S; effective 5-8-2008.)
(Amended 1-23-2025 by O-21912 N.S.; effective 2-22-2025.)
Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter05/Ch05Art04Division10.pdf#page=10Fetched: 10/28/2026