House Flippers · EPA & state Lead-Safe (RRP) firm certification
Start Filing
How It WorksPricingGuidesFAQCheck Status
For house flippers

Lead-Safe certification for house flippers.

If you buy, renovate, and resell homes built before 1978, the EPA’s RRP Rule almost certainly applies to your business. Flipping is renovation for compensation, and the moment your crew disturbs more than six square feet of interior paint in a pre-1978 house, your firm is expected to hold Lead-Safe (RRP) certification, before the work and before you advertise the property as renovated.

We handle that filing for you. EPA-administered states are $429 all in (a $129 service fee plus the $300 EPA fee), valid five years, with no Social Security number required. You keep flipping; we keep the paperwork off your plate.

Why the RRP Rule applies to house flippers

  • Flipping is renovation for payBuying, renovating, and reselling a pre-1978 home for profit is regulated renovation work, even when you own the property.
  • Pre-1978 housing stockMost flip inventory is older housing, exactly the target housing the RRP Rule covers.
  • Advertising counts tooMarketing a renovated pre-1978 flip can count as offering regulated work, so certification needs to come first.
  • How penalties are setThe maximum civil penalty is $49,772 per violation, per day (40 CFR 19.4, adjustment effective January 8, 2025); EPA sets actual penalties case by case.

How much does RRP firm certification cost?

$154 to $429 all in, depending on the program. In EPA-administered states it is $429: our $129 service fee plus the $300 EPA filing fee. State-run programs: WA $154 · WI $254 (2-year) or $379 (4-year) · DE $429.

How long is RRP firm certification valid?

Five years in EPA-administered states. State-run programs set their own terms: Wisconsin 4 years, Delaware 5 years, Washington up to 5 years.

Who issues RRP firm certification?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issues it in EPA-administered states. In the three state-run programs we file, the state agency issues it: WI DHS, Asbestos & Lead Section; DE Division of Public Health; WA Dept of Commerce.

Frequently asked questions

Do house flippers really need EPA RRP certification?

Yes, if you are paid to renovate pre-1978 homes and the work disturbs more than six square feet of interior paint (or more than twenty square feet of exterior), your firm needs Lead-Safe certification. Flipping for resale is compensated renovation, so it falls under the rule.

What if I do the renovation work myself?

The rule applies to the firm performing the work for compensation, including a sole proprietor doing the work themselves. A one-person flipping business still needs firm certification, plus a certified renovator to perform or direct the lead-safe work.

How fast can I get certified before my next flip?

Processing time is set by the EPA (or your state program) and is not guaranteed; EPA must act on a firm application within 90 days under 40 CFR 745.89. You can start the filing in about two minutes and we track it to issuance.

More who-needs-this guides

Select your state and start your filing → · See cost by state

Get certified. Get back to work.

We prepare and file your EPA or state Lead-Safe firm certification. No SSN required; processing time is set by the issuing agency.

Start Your Filing