If your house was built before 1978, treat old paint as possibly containing lead until it is tested. That matters in Ann Arbor, where whole neighborhoods date from before World War II. This page also covers the other rules people ask about: permits, HOAs, historic districts and storefronts.
This page is general information for Michigan homeowners and landlords. It is not legal advice. For a legal question, read the rule itself or ask a lawyer.
My house was built before 1978: do I need to worry about lead paint?
Yes, if paint will be sanded, scraped or cut. Lead paint for homes was banned in the United States in 1978. Paint in good shape that is left alone is a low risk. The danger is dust and chips made by sanding, scraping, demolition and worn windows.
Young children and pregnant women are most at risk. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) runs the state's lead programs under the name MI Lead Safe.
How do I know if old paint contains lead?
You test for lead. A certified lead inspector or risk assessor can check the paint, usually with a hand-held XRF device or lab samples. In Michigan those inspectors are certified by MDHHS. A contractor certified under the federal rule may also use an EPA-recognized test kit on the surfaces to be disturbed.
HomeGuide lists a lead inspection at $300 to $700 nationally and DIY test kits at $20 to $30. Those are national published figures for 2026, not our quotes.
Can you paint over lead paint or must it be removed?
Lead paint that is intact can usually be painted over. It does not have to be removed just because it is there. Ordinary paint covers it but is not a formal treatment. Encapsulation uses a special coating made to seal lead paint, and abatement means removing or permanently enclosing it.
In Michigan, abatement is a separate regulated activity. MDHHS states that the renovation certification does not certify people to do lead abatement work in this state. Abatement firms and workers are certified by MDHHS.
What certification does a painter need for pre-1978 homes?
A painter paid to disturb paint in a pre-1978 home must work for an EPA Lead-Safe Certified firm, with a certified renovator assigned to the job. This is the federal Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule. Michigan is not one of the states that runs its own RRP program, so EPA administers the rule here.
The rule applies above small thresholds: more than 6 square feet of painted surface per room inside, or more than 20 square feet outside. The firm must also give you the EPA booklet Renovate Right before work starts. Ask any painter for the firm's certificate. You can look firms up on the EPA website.
Do lead rules change the price?
Yes. Lead-safe work adds labor and materials, so the price of a job on old paint is higher. The crew lays plastic, contains the dust, avoids dry power sanding without HEPA capture, cleans with HEPA vacuums and checks the clean-up.
No national figure is published for the extra cost on a paint job. For formal treatment, HomeGuide lists encapsulation at $6 to $10 per square foot and removal at $10 to $17. Those are abatement figures, not painting prices.
Who is responsible for lead paint disclosure on a rental?
The landlord is. Under the federal lead disclosure rule, before a lease is signed on housing built before 1978, the landlord must tell the tenant about any known lead paint, hand over any reports and give the pamphlet Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home. Sellers have the same duty to buyers.
Michigan also has its own lead laws for rental owners, listed by MDHHS on its policies and laws page. Ann Arbor has a large rental stock near campus in old houses, so this comes up often. Ask a lawyer about your own duties.
Do I need a permit to paint the outside of my house?
No, painting a house does not normally need a building permit. Painting is finish work and ordinary upkeep. In Ann Arbor, permits are handled by the city's Building and Rental Services unit, and it is the office to ask if the job also includes repairs to siding, porches or structure.
Do I need HOA approval to change my exterior color, and can the HOA fine me?
If you live in an HOA or a site condominium, read the rules before you pick a color. Many associations in the newer subdivisions around Ann Arbor, Pittsfield and Scio townships require written approval for exterior color changes. Whether the association can fine you depends on its own recorded documents.
Get the approval in writing first. We can supply color samples for your application.
Are there paint rules in a historic district?
Ann Arbor has 14 locally designated historic districts, including the Old West Side and the Old Fourth Ward. Exterior work there is reviewed by the Historic District Commission. The city's preservation guidance says paint is typically seen as a temporary finish that does not damage original material and so is not regulated.
One thing is treated differently. The Ann Arbor Historic District Design Guidelines list painting previously unpainted masonry as not appropriate. So repainting wood siding is one thing and painting bare brick is another. Call the city's historic preservation staff before you change an exterior in a district.
Do I need a permit to paint a storefront or commercial building?
Painting a storefront does not normally need a building permit either. Other parts of the job may need approval: a new or changed sign, scaffolding or a lift standing on the public sidewalk, and any exterior change to a building in a downtown historic district. Ask the city before work starts.
If you rent the space, check your lease and get the landlord's consent to a color change.
Questions about a pre-1978 house? Ask us how we handle old paint when we come out for the estimate. Call or text (734) 399-4198.