Lead law · Washtenaw County, Michigan
Lead law in Washtenaw County
How federal EPA RRP, Michigan PA 434, and local Washtenaw County enforcement combine in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and the rest of the county. Last reviewed May 8, 2026.
Pre-1978 stock
≈ 32,000
housing units across Washtenaw County built before lead paint was banned in residential construction.
Local enforcement
Washtenaw is referral-driven: Public Health acts on elevated blood-lead level (EBLL) findings from primary care providers, then orders the landlord to remediate. The teeth are in MCL 333.5475a (PA 434) — knowingly renting a unit with lead hazards to a family with an EBLL child can trigger civil penalties and (for repeat / knowing offenses) criminal exposure. RRP work-practice violations on a renovation are still a federal EPA matter regardless of the local enforcement posture.
Rental-cert programs
Ann Arbor's Rental Housing Inspection program runs on a 30-month cycle covering basic habitability — it does NOT specifically inspect lead paint, but does flag deteriorated paint as a code item. Ypsilanti runs its own rental certification program. Outside those two cities, no county-wide rental-cert program; lead-paint enforcement is referral-driven on EBLL findings.
Health department contact
Top pre-1978 ZIPs in Washtenaw
ZIP codes with the highest concentration of pre-1978 housing stock — these are the geographies where RRP triggers most frequently and where EBLL referrals tend to cluster.
The federal floor still applies
Whatever the local enforcement posture in Washtenaw, federal EPA RRP requirements (40 CFR Part 745 Subpart E) apply on every renovation that meets the trigger thresholds: pre-1978 housing or child-occupied facility, more than 6 sq ft interior or 20 sq ft exterior of painted surface disturbed, or window replacement / demolition. The work must be performed by an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm. Civil penalties run up to $47,357 per violation per day under TSCA § 16.
ECT covers the EPA piece in Washtenaw County.
EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm NAT-F334542-1 (certified for purposes of TSCA § 402). $550 flat, captured at booking, 24-hour compliance packet.
Not legal advice
Andrae Washington, JD (EPA RRP Certified Lead Renovator R-I-99273-26-01409) authored this post. Andrae Washington holds a JD, but ECT is not a law firm and does not practice law. This page is general guidance current as of May 8, 2026, not legal advice for your specific situation. For decisions that turn on the facts of your sale, lease, renovation, or rental dispute, consult a licensed Michigan attorney.
For lead-paint questions, EPA-required pamphlets, certified-firm verification, or to report a suspected violation, call EPA's National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323).