1. Learn about this resource.

Residents can use financial assistance from us—DC Government—to replace lead-based paint from their homes. We work with a local nonprofit to pay for the projects and find a repair person to complete work on your home.

This program is called the Lead Reduction Program and is offered by the Department of Energy & Environment.

2. Check if you are eligible.

You are eligible if all of these statements are true:

You live in DC.
You live in a house or building built before 1978.
Your household’s annual gross income—your income before paying taxes—is at or below the limits based on your household size. You can check by answering the two questions below.

reduce lead paint in your home?

DO YOU WANT TO

This resource is provided by:

አማርኛ 中文 Français 한국어 Español Tiếng Việt

You do not need to be a homeowner to apply for this program.

Gather proof of your household income and assets, which could include the most recent pay stubs, social security statements, pension statements, bank statements, unemployment benefits statements, and/or child support statements, for you and the members of your household. You only need the documents that apply to your situation.
Choose one of these options to apply online, by email, or by mail:
1. To apply online, complete this online application. You'll need to upload photos or scans of your documents into the application.
2. To apply by email, email your completed application form to leadpaint.reduction@dc.gov. You'll need to attach photos or scans of your documents to the email.
3. To apply by mail, print and mail your completed application form and copies of your documents to the address below. You'll need to make copies of your documents. Please don't send the originals.

Department of Energy & Environment, Residential Services Division

Attn: Lead Reduction Program

1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor

Washington, DC 20002

You can apply at any time. You can also be referred to the program. If a child under the age of six has elevated levels of lead in their blood, their doctor contacts us—DC Government—for assistance. You may also be referred by a local nonprofit organization, another DC Government agency, a lawyer, or someone else.

4. Gather more information.

We—DC Government—will call you to let you know if your application has been approved, and we’ll appoint a local nonprofit to pay for and arrange the work.
The local nonprofit will arrange for a repairperson to inspect your home for lead and other hazards. They’ll provide us an estimate of the cost to remove and repair the lead-based paint and make your home safer. If they find any other sources of lead in their inspection, we’ll let you know and work with you to address those.
The repairperson will remove or repair the lead-based paint, test to make sure the repairs were done correctly, and then inspect your home for lead again.
Your home is lead-safe! You or your landlord will agree to monitoring your home for lead and keeping it safe.

If you are not approved for the repairs, we will let you know about other programs that may be able to help.

I’ve received the repairs to my home and have decided to rent it out instead of living there myself. Are there any special requirements that I have to follow?

Yes. For three years after the repairs have been completed, you must prioritize advertising and renting your home to families with children that are six years old and younger or to pregnant women. You must also continue to monitor the home for lead and keep it lead-safe.

Do I need to pay anything to get the repairs?

We—DC Government—cover the costs for the entire process, including the initial inspection, the repairs, tests, and the final inspection. If you need to relocate while the repairs are done, we may offer financial assistance to cover your relocation costs on a case-by-case basis. You must agree to monitor for lead and keep the home lead-safe in the future, and you would be responsible for the costs to do so.

Who completes the work?

We’ll assign a local nonprofit to arrange for and pay for the repairs. The repairs will be completed by a licensed repair person with the proper certifications.

How long does the repair process take?

Depending on the size of your home and how much work needs to be done, repairs can take 1-10 business days. In some cases, the repairs may take longer.

Does this program test whether my child has been exposed to lead?

No, the program does not test your child for lead exposure. By law, all children who live in the District of Columbia must be tested for lead at ages 6–14 months and 22–26 months. An easy way to remember: Test every child, twice by two.

In addition, we require all children six years old and younger that live in a home that gets repairs to be screened for lead exposure. For more information on lead screening, contact your pediatrician or the District's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at 202-535-2600.

Does this program give priority to households with a child that has elevated blood lead levels?

Yes, we prioritize households with children who have elevated blood lead levels.

My household doesn’t have any income. How can I prove that?

If your household doesn’t have any income, you can submit one of these documents with your application:

A notarized zero income statement,
A recent screenshot of your "Claimant Profile" page on the Department of Employment Services (DOES) website showing that your "Balance" is zero (see example),
A recent letter from your former employer stating that you no longer work there (if you've lost your job but are not yet receiving unemployment benefits from DOES), OR
A recent letter from the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) stating that your household doesn't have any income

My household doesn't have any assets. How can I prove that?

If no one in your household has a bank account, you can submit a notarized no bank account statement.

Keywords: District residents, lead testing, replace lead paint, child, pregnant person, kid, babysitting, expecting

This page was last updated October 2022.

Lead Reduction Translations

reduce lead paint in your home?

DO YOU WANT TO

3. Apply.

What happens after I apply?

Do all eligible applicants get to replace their lead-based paint?

Are there any additional requirements I should know about?

Who should I contact if I have questions?

I still need help with making my home safer. What should I do?

Frequently Asked Questions