Fire Code Amended To Include Lead Paint Assessment Fees In Long Valley

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Long Valley officials passed an ordinance that added a fee for Lead Paint Assessments in rental properties to a section of the fire prevention code.

The amendment, which was approved by the council in September, calls for changing Chapter 87 of the code, "Fire Prevention," Section 87-13 "Fees." The lead assessment fees, according to the ordinance, will vary in price depending on the time frame in which they are requested.

1. Requests for a lead paint assessment received more than 10 business days prior to the change of occupant: $40
2. Requests for a lead paint assessment received four to 10 business days prior to the change of occupant: $70
3. Requests for a lead paint assessment received fewer than four business days prior to the change of occupant: $125.

According to the ordinance, the State of New Jersey passed P.L. 2021, c. 182, an Act relating to certain lead-based paint hazards and residential rental property, as well as establishing a lead-based paint hazard program.

The act, which was passed last year, required each municipality to charge a fee of $20 per unit inspected by a certified lead evaluation contractor or permanent local agency for the purposes of the "Lead Hazard Control Assistance Act."

A single-family or two-family dwelling unit shall not be subject to inspection and evaluation for the presence of lead-based paint hazards, or to the fees associated with such inspection or evaluation, if the unit:

1. has been certified to be free of lead-based paint;
2. was constructed during or after 1978; or
3. is a seasonal rental unit that is rented for less than six months duration each year; or
4. has been certified as having a lead-free interior by a certified inspector

Lead exposure is possible as a result of paint disturbance or removal during renovation work on houses built before 1971. Lead poisoning is especially dangerous for nursing or pregnant women, as well as children, the Washington Township Health Department said.

Improper lead paint removal can result in lead-containing paint chips, dust, smoke, or fumes, which can cause serious health problems.