Cal. Civ. Code § 197E
Lead abatement loan program
Operative Text
Section 197E. There shall be a loan program in the executive office of housing and livable communities for lead abatement throughout the commonwealth. Said program shall assist residential property owners in financing the abatement and containment of lead paint hazards. The secretary of housing and livable communities, in consultation with the commissioner and the lead poisoning control director, shall administer said program and may distribute funds through community action agencies, redevelopment agencies, local nonprofit community and housing agencies and other appropriate municipal and non-profit agencies and organizations. Loans under the program must be used for lead-paint abatement and containment activities. Agencies and organizations eligible for loans under this program shall be selected by the secretary of housing and livable communities in consultation with the commissioner and the lead poisoning control director. Not less than one-half of funds allocated for this program shall be distributed to agencies and organizations serving high-risk areas and communities. Such high-risk areas and communities shall be chosen by the commissioner based upon the following criteria: the incidence of childhood lead poisoning reported in the previous five years; the proportion of residential housing stock containing lead paint hazards; the proportion of residents of low and moderate income; and the prior efforts of appropriate agencies and organizations to promote and carry out preventive measures designed to alleviate lead hazards. All agencies and organizations wishing to receive funding from this program shall submit to said secretary and the commissioner a report detailing a proposed plan to reduce lead paint hazards. The secretary of housing and livable communities and the commissioner, subject to the consultation provisions of section one hundred and ninety of this chapter, shall promulgate regulations necessary to administer this program. Said secretary of housing and livable communities and the commissioner shall report to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate not later than October first of each year concerning the distribution of loan funds under this program. Said secretary of housing and livable communities shall promulgate regulations which establish reasonable terms and conditions of such loans, including interest rates and maturity dates designed to encourage compliance with this chapter.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 111 § 197E establishes a state-administered loan program, housed within the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, to help residential property owners finance the abatement and containment of lead paint hazards. Funds may flow through community action agencies, redevelopment agencies, and local nonprofit organizations, with at least half of all allocated funds directed toward high-risk areas identified by factors such as childhood lead poisoning rates, housing stock conditions, and resident income levels. The program is governed by regulations setting loan terms—including interest rates and maturity dates—designed to encourage compliance with Massachusetts lead paint law, and administrators must report annually to the state legislature on how funds are distributed.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mass. Gen. Laws c. 111 § 197E, residential property owners may be eligible to access loan funds specifically designated for lead paint abatement and containment work. Operators who work with participating community action agencies, redevelopment agencies, or local nonprofit housing organizations can explore whether their properties qualify, particularly if located in areas the commissioner has designated as high-risk. Compliant operators generally ensure that any loan proceeds obtained through this program are applied exclusively to qualifying lead-paint abatement and containment activities, consistent with the program's regulatory terms and conditions.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 111 § 197E creates a public financing mechanism that can support lead hazard reduction in residential housing across Massachusetts, which may be relevant to tenants living in older homes with potential lead paint concerns. Tenants who believe their housing contains unaddressed lead paint hazards can inquire with local community action agencies or nonprofit housing organizations that participate in this program to learn whether their landlord has accessed or could access these funds. Tenants may also contact a local tenant-rights organization or the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to better understand how this provision intersects with a landlord's broader obligations under Massachusetts lead paint law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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