Is a Building Pre-1978? How to Check the Year Built

The EPA RRP Rule applies to housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978, the year residential lead-based paint was banned in the United States. The fastest way to confirm a building's age is your county property records, which are usually searchable online for free by address and list the year built. If a structure was built in 1978 or later, the rule generally does not apply.

The catch is that the burden of knowing the build year is on the firm. When you cannot confirm a property predates 1978, the EPA expects you to treat it as pre-1978 and follow the rule, or to have the surfaces tested. This guide shows where to find the year built and what to do when it is uncertain.

Why 1978 is the dividing line

Lead-based paint for residential use was banned in the United States in 1978. Because older buildings are far more likely to contain it, the RRP Rule targets target housing and child-occupied facilities built before that year. A building constructed in 1978 or later is generally outside the rule, though the firm still has to be able to show the construction date.

How to find a building's year built

In most cases you can confirm the year built in a few minutes without leaving your truck. These sources are listed roughly from fastest to most authoritative:

County assessor or property appraiser website: search by address; the year built is a standard field and it is usually free
The deed, title, or closing documents the owner already has
Local building permit records held by the city or county
Real-estate listings and tax records, which typically show the year built
Ask the property owner directly, then verify against public records
For older or rebuilt structures, historical records or a local building department can confirm the original construction date

What to do when the year built is uncertain

If you cannot confirm that a building was constructed in 1978 or later, do not guess in your favor. The safe and compliant move is to assume the property is pre-1978 and follow lead-safe work practices, which means your firm needs to be certified.

The alternative is to test. A certified renovator can use an EPA-recognized lead test kit on the specific components you will disturb, or a certified lead inspector or risk assessor can make a formal determination. If the components come back lead-free, that work is exempt. If you are doing regulated work in older homes regularly, getting your firm certified once is simpler than testing every job. Start your filing at LeadSafeFiling.com and pick your state.

Frequently asked questions

What year does the EPA RRP Rule use?

Before 1978. The rule covers renovation, repair, and painting that disturbs paint in housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978, the year residential lead-based paint was banned.

How do I find out what year a house was built?

The fastest source is your county assessor or property appraiser website, which is usually searchable by address and lists the year built for free. The deed, building permits, and real-estate or tax records also show it.

What if I cannot confirm the build year?

Treat the property as pre-1978 and follow the RRP Rule, which means your firm should be certified. Alternatively, have a certified renovator or inspector test the components you will disturb; lead-free components are exempt.

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Is the Building Pre-1978? How to Check the Year It Was Built