Minn. Stat. § 144 § 144.9508

RULES.

In Force
Verified 10/26/2026 · Next check 11/2/2026
effective 9/30/2026MinnesotaLead-Based Paint

Operative Text

Minn. Stat. § 144 § 144.9508
Subdivision 1.Sampling and analysis.
The commissioner shall adopt, by rule, methods for:

(1) lead inspections, lead hazard screens, lead risk assessments, and clearance inspections;

(2) environmental surveys of lead in paint, soil, dust, and drinking water to determine areas at high risk for toxic lead exposure;

(3) soil sampling for soil used as replacement soil;

(4) drinking water sampling, which shall be done in accordance with lab certification requirements and analytical techniques specified by Code of Federal Regulations, title 40, section 141.89; and

(5) sampling to determine whether at least 25 percent of the soil samples collected from a census tract within a standard metropolitan statistical area contain lead in concentrations that exceed 100 parts per million.

Subd. 2.Regulated lead work standards and methods.
(a) The commissioner shall adopt rules establishing regulated lead work standards and methods in accordance with the provisions of this section, for lead in paint, dust, drinking water, and soil in a manner that protects public health and the environment for all residences, including residences also used for a commercial purpose, child care facilities, playgrounds, and schools.

(b) In the rules required by this section, the commissioner shall require lead hazard reduction of intact paint only if the commissioner finds that the intact paint is on a chewable or lead-dust producing surface that is a known source of actual lead exposure to a specific individual. The commissioner shall prohibit methods that disperse lead dust into the air that could accumulate to a level that would exceed the lead dust standard specified under this section. The commissioner shall work cooperatively with the commissioner of administration to determine which lead hazard reduction methods adopted under this section may be used for lead-safe practices including prohibited practices, preparation, disposal, and cleanup. The commissioner shall work cooperatively with the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency to develop disposal procedures. In adopting rules under this section, the commissioner shall require the best available technology for regulated lead work methods, paint stabilization, and repainting.

(c) The commissioner of health shall adopt regulated lead work standards and methods for lead in bare soil in a manner to protect public health and the environment. The commissioner shall adopt a maximum standard of 100 parts of lead per million in bare soil. The commissioner shall set a soil replacement standard not to exceed 25 parts of lead per million. Soil lead hazard reduction methods shall focus on erosion control and covering of bare soil.

(d) The commissioner shall adopt regulated lead work standards and methods for lead in dust in a manner to protect the public health and environment. Dust standards shall use a weight of lead per area measure and include dust on the floor, on the window sills, and on window wells. Lead hazard reduction methods for dust shall focus on dust removal and other practices which minimize the formation of lead dust from paint, soil, or other sources.

(e) The commissioner shall adopt lead hazard reduction standards and methods for lead in drinking water both at the tap and public water supply system or private well in a manner to protect the public health and the environment. The commissioner may adopt the rules for controlling lead in drinking water as contained in Code of Federal Regulations, title 40, part 141. Drinking water lead hazard reduction methods may include an educational approach of minimizing lead exposure from lead in drinking water.

(f) The commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency shall adopt rules to ensure that removal of exterior lead-based coatings from residences and steel structures by abrasive blasting methods is conducted in a manner that protects health and the environment.

(g) All regulated lead work standards shall provide reasonable margins of safety that are consistent with more than a summary review of scientific evidence and an emphasis on overprotection rather than underprotection when the scientific evidence is ambiguous.

(h) No unit of local government shall have an ordinance or regulation governing regulated lead work standards or methods for lead in paint, dust, drinking water, or soil that require a different regulated lead work standard or method than the standards or methods established under this section.

(i) Notwithstanding paragraph (h), the commissioner may approve the use by a unit of local government of an innovative lead hazard reduction method which is consistent in approach with methods established under this section.

(j) The commissioner shall adopt rules for issuing lead orders required under section 144.9504, rules for notification of abatement or interim control activities requirements, and other rules necessary to implement sections 144.9501 to 144.9512.

(k) The commissioner shall adopt rules consistent with section 402(c)(3) of the Toxic Substances Control Act and all regulations adopted thereunder to ensure that renovation in a pre-1978 affected property is conducted in a manner that protects health and the environment. Notwithstanding sections 14.125 and 14.128, the authority to adopt these rules does not expire.

(l) The commissioner shall adopt rules consistent with sections 406(a) and 406(b) of the Toxic Substances Control Act. Notwithstanding sections 14.125 and 14.128, the authority to adopt these rules does not expire.

Subd. 2a.Lead standards for exterior surfaces and street dust.
The commissioner may, by rule, establish lead standards for exterior horizontal surfaces, concrete or other impervious surfaces, and street dust on residential property to protect the public health and the environment.

Subd. 3.Licensure and certification.
The commissioner shall adopt rules to license lead supervisors, lead workers, lead project designers, lead inspectors, lead risk assessors, and lead sampling technicians. The commissioner shall also adopt rules requiring certification of firms that perform regulated lead work. The commissioner shall require periodic renewal of licenses and certificates and shall establish the renewal periods.

Subd. 4.Lead training course.
The commissioner shall establish by rule requirements for training course providers and the renewal period for each lead-related training course required for certification or licensure. The commissioner shall establish criteria in rules for the content and presentation of training courses intended to qualify trainees for licensure under subdivision 3. The commissioner shall establish criteria in rules for the content and presentation of training courses for lead renovation and lead sampling technicians.

Subd. 5.Variances.
In adopting the rules required under this section, the commissioner shall provide variance procedures for any provision in rules adopted under this section, except for the numerical standards for the concentrations of lead in paint, dust, bare soil, and drinking water. A variance shall be considered only according to the procedures and criteria in Minnesota Rules, parts 4717.7000 to 4717.7050.

Subd. 6.
[Repealed, 2001 c 205 art 1 s 43]
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Minn. Stat. § 144.9508 directs the Minnesota Commissioner of Health to establish, through formal rulemaking, the technical standards that govern lead inspections, risk assessments, hazard reduction methods, and clearance procedures for paint, dust, soil, and drinking water in residences, child care facilities, and schools. It also requires rules for licensing and certifying the professionals and firms that perform regulated lead work, as well as training course standards for those seeking licensure. Local governments are generally preempted from setting different lead work standards than those established under this section.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on September 30, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under Minn. Stat. § 144.9508, property owners who hire contractors for regulated lead work—such as inspections, abatement, or renovation in pre-1978 properties—are generally expected to use only licensed supervisors, certified firms, and methods that comply with the commissioner's adopted rules. Compliant operators typically verify that contractors hold current licenses and certifications required under Subdivision 3 before work begins. Keeping documentation of contractor credentials and completed clearance inspections is a common practice for demonstrating compliance.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Minn. Stat. § 144.9508 establishes the framework of rules that protect residents from lead hazards in paint, dust, soil, and drinking water. Tenants who believe regulated lead work in their home was performed by unlicensed individuals or using non-compliant methods may consider contacting the Minnesota Department of Health, which oversees enforcement of these standards. Tenant-rights organizations can also help residents understand available options, including whether a lead order under § 144.9504 may apply to their situation.

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 30, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Sep 30, 2026
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References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

Minn. Stat. § 141.89
Not yet ingested
Minn. Stat. § 144.9504
Not yet ingested

References In

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Related Rules

§ 127H
Repealed, 1992, 407, Sec. 9
§ 127M
Repealed, 1975, 615
§ 190
Program for the prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment of lead poisoning; lead poisoning control director; advisory committee

Source Information

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