Ohio Rev. Code § 3742 § 3742.42
Residential rental unit lead-safe maintenance practices.
Operative Text
(A) In completing residential rental unit lead-safe maintenance practices, the owner or agent of the owner of a residential rental unit shall do all of the following: (1) Successfully complete a training program in residential rental unit lead-safe maintenance practices approved by the director under section 3742.43 of the Revised Code; (2) Annually perform a visual examination for deteriorated paint, underlying damage, and other conditions that may cause exposure to lead; (3) After completing the visual examination and identification of deteriorated paint or other conditions that may cause exposure to lead, repair deteriorated paint or other building components that may cause exposure to lead and eliminate the cause of the deterioration in accordance with the work practice standards established by the United States environmental protection agency in 40 C.F.R. Part 745.85; (4) Conduct post-maintenance dust sampling in accordance with rules adopted under section 3742.45 of the Revised Code; (5) Maintain a record of residential rental unit lead-safe maintenance practices for at least three years that documents those maintenance practices, including post-maintenance dust sampling conducted in accordance with rules adopted under section 3742.45 of the Revised Code. (B) The areas of a residential rental unit that are subject to division (A) of this section include all of the following: (1) The interior surfaces and all common areas; (2) Every attached or unattached structure located within the same lot line as the residential rental unit that the owner or manager considers to be associated with the operation of the residential rental unit, including garages, play equipment, and fences; (3) The lot or land that the residential rental unit occupies. (C) The residential rental unit lead-safe maintenance practices described in this section are not required to be performed by a person licensed as a lead abatement contractor or lead abatement worker under this chapter. However, six months after the effective date of this amendment, any person other than a lead abatement contractor or lead abatement worker who performs the residential rental unit lead-safe maintenance practices shall have successfully completed a training program in residential rental unit lead-safe maintenance practices approved by the director under section 3742.43 of the Revised Code.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3742.42 establishes a set of lead-safe maintenance requirements that apply to residential rental properties. Under this provision, owners or their agents must complete an approved training program, conduct annual visual inspections for deteriorated paint and related hazards, repair any identified problems using EPA-standard work practices, perform post-maintenance dust sampling, and keep records of all these activities for at least three years. The rule covers not just the interior of the rental unit but also common areas, attached and unattached structures on the same lot, and the surrounding land.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of residential rental units subject to Ohio Rev. Code § 3742.42 generally complete a state-approved lead-safe maintenance training program before performing covered work, and they schedule annual visual inspections of all interior surfaces, common areas, outbuildings, fences, play equipment, and the lot itself. When deteriorated paint or other lead-exposure conditions are found, compliant operators repair those conditions using EPA work practice standards set out in 40 C.F.R. Part 745.85 and follow up with post-maintenance dust sampling. Thorough recordkeeping—documenting inspections, repairs, and dust-sampling results—is maintained for a minimum of three years as required by § 3742.42(A)(5).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3742.42 gives tenants in residential rental units the assurance that their landlord or the landlord's agent is required by law to conduct annual lead-hazard inspections, make necessary repairs, and document those efforts. If a tenant believes these obligations are not being met—for example, if visible paint deterioration is left unaddressed or no inspection appears to have occurred—they may consider contacting the Ohio Department of Health, which oversees the lead-safe program under Chapter 3742, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options. Tenants may also find it useful to review whether the required three-year maintenance records under § 3742.42(A)(5) have been kept, as those records can be relevant to understanding a property's compliance history.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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