Does the City of St. Louis inspect for lead for free?
Yes, in many cases. The City of St. Louis inspects residential City properties for lead free of charge where a child under six or a pregnant woman lives. You can request an inspection online or call the Citizens’ Service Bureau (CSB) at (314) 622-4800.
The inspection looks for lead hazards in the home. It does not remove anything. If the inspector finds hazards, the owner can apply for financial help, covered below.
This guide covers programs, offices and landlord duties. For the health basics, the 1978 cutoff and testing, read lead paint in pre-1978 homes. The glossary has short definitions of lead-based paint and lead abatement.
Who qualifies for a lead inspection in St. Louis County?
St. Louis County Healthy Homes offers free home inspections for lead-based paint hazards to county residents, but the County FAQ sets two conditions: a child under six must live in the home or visit regularly, and that child needs a recent venous blood lead level test. Call (314) 615-5323. The County Department of Public Health runs the program.
“County residents” is the County’s wording. If you live in a city inside the County, call to confirm which office covers your address. If you live in the City of St. Louis, use the City program above.
Is there money to fix lead hazards in the city?
Possibly. The City says that when lead hazards are found, owners may apply for financial assistance. It awards help using three questions: the income of the people who live there, whether children under six live there, and whether the owner lives in the home.
The City also posted a notice about a federal Lead Hazard Reduction grant. The notice says the program will remediate 240 housing units, with $3,606,493 for a period running February 1, 2025 through February 1, 2029. Treat that as proof the program exists and has an end date. It is not a promise of open funds. Call CSB at (314) 622-4800 to learn what is open today.
Is there money in St. Louis County, and who qualifies?
St. Louis County’s Office of Community Development runs a Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Program with no-cost home improvements. The flyer lists window and door replacement, exterior trim enclosure and interior and exterior painting. The County’s flyer is undated, so call before you apply.
According to that flyer, you qualify if all of these are true:
- You own a home in St. Louis County built before 1978.
- You are current on your property taxes.
- A child under six lives in the home or often visits it, or a mother is pregnant.
- Your adjusted household income meets HUD guidelines.
The program phone on the flyer is 314-615-1642. We could not confirm from the County pages that the program is open to new applicants today. Also, the County Healthy Homes page says its Show-Me Missouri Healthy Homes grant has enrolled all projects for the grant term and is no longer taking new applications. Do not count on that grant.
Where do I turn for lead help?
Start with the table. Match your situation to the row, then call the number.
| You are | Free inspection | Money to fix | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of St. Louis resident | Yes, where a child under six or a pregnant woman lives | Owners may apply when hazards are found. Income, children and owner occupancy count | CSB (314) 622-4800 |
| St. Louis County resident | Yes, from Healthy Homes, with a child under six who lives there or visits regularly and has a recent venous blood lead test | Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Program, with owner, tax, child and income rules | Inspections (314) 615-5323. Program 314-615-1642 |
| Renter | Ask the owner or the programs above | The owner applies | Same offices |
| Landlord or flipper | Not required to test | Plan for lead-safe work rules | DHSS lead licensing 573-526-5873 |
Check each office before you plan around a program. Funds, forms and rules change.
What does a landlord have to tell a renter about lead?
Before a renter signs a lease for housing built before 1978, the landlord must follow the federal disclosure rule. EPA lists what that means. The landlord gives you the “Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home” pamphlet. The landlord discloses what they know about lead-based paint and lead hazards, gives you available records and reports, and provides a Lead Warning Statement.
The landlord must keep a signed copy of the disclosures for three years after the lease begins. EPA lists a few exemptions, including foreclosure sales and housing built after 1977. Some short leases and some zero-bedroom units are exempt too, but only under conditions EPA spells out, so read EPA’s page before you rely on one. Leases of housing that a certified inspector found lead-based paint free are also exempt. That exemption covers leases only, not sales, under 40 CFR 745.101.
Are landlords required to test for lead paint?
No. EPA says renters can ask a landlord or property manager to get a paint inspection from a certified inspector before signing, but the Disclosure Rule does not require the landlord to do it. The rule covers sharing what the landlord already knows.
That gap matters. A landlord who says “I know of no lead paint” may simply never have tested. If a child under six will live in the unit, ask for a certified inspection, or call a City or County program above. The City and County may add inspection steps for rentals. See testing an older St. Louis home for how those local inspections fit in.
Do buyers get time to test for lead?
Yes. Under the federal rule, sellers of pre-1978 homes must give buyers a 10-day period to conduct a paint inspection or risk assessment, unless buyer and seller agree in writing to a different period, or the buyer waives it in writing. Buyers get the pamphlet and the seller’s disclosure before they sign the contract.
Ten days, or whatever period your contract sets, passes fast. Line up a licensed inspector or risk assessor before you make an offer. Missouri DHSS says paint chip sampling must be done by a licensed lead-based paint inspector or risk assessor. Ask any inspector for the state license first.
When does the EPA renovation rule apply to a rental or a flip?
It applies whenever someone is paid to disturb paint in a home built before 1978. EPA’s RRP rule requires that those firms be certified and their workers trained in lead-safe work practices. EPA says the rule generally does not cover owners working on their own home. It does cover landlords, child care centers in a home and house flippers.
Missouri DHSS puts numbers on it: work that affects more than 6 square feet of painted surface inside, or 20 square feet outside, calls for a certified renovation firm and a certified renovator. The interior limit is per room, and window replacement, demolition of painted surfaces and practices the rule prohibits are covered at any size (40 CFR 745.83). EPA runs the RRP program in Missouri. Missouri is not on EPA’s list of 14 states that run their own programs.
A common trap is mold or water repair. Cutting out moldy drywall with painted trim in a 1960 rental disturbs paint. See mold in St. Louis rentals.
Who is allowed to remove lead paint in Missouri?
Only licensed professionals. Missouri DHSS says anyone doing abatement must be licensed by the Department of Health and Senior Services. The state lists removal, replacement, enclosure and encapsulation as abatement. DHSS also does random inspections of lead abatement contractors.
Abatement is different from a lead-safe renovation. A renovation follows EPA’s rule while you remodel. Abatement is planned work to control a hazard. Our post on the Missouri lead abatement license explains the split in more detail.
Who samples paint chips, and how do I check a contractor?
Missouri DHSS says paint chip sampling must be performed by a licensed lead-based paint inspector or risk assessor. Ask what method the inspector uses. One common tool is an XRF analyzer, which reads lead in paint without taking a chip.
To check a contractor, ask for the state license and the EPA RRP firm certification, depending on the job. You can call the DHSS lead licensing program at 573-526-5873. Never hire anyone who offers to scrape or sand old paint without containment.
How can AES help with lead in St. Louis?
AES does lead abatement for homes and commercial buildings in St. Louis and within 300 miles. Call the office at (314) 865-2662 or send the quote form at /contact. We do not run the City or County grant programs and we do not inspect for them. The offices above do that.
Next step
If a lead inspection found hazards, or you plan paid work in a pre-1978 building, talk to a licensed crew first. See our lead abatement service, call (314) 865-2662, or request a free quote at /contact.
Frequently asked questions
Is a lead inspection free in St. Louis?
Often, yes. The City of St. Louis performs lead inspections free on residential City properties where a child under six or a pregnant woman lives. St. Louis County Healthy Homes inspects free for residents with a child under six who lives there or visits regularly, with a recent venous blood lead test. Call the City at (314) 622-4800 or the County at (314) 615-5323.
Can I get money to fix lead paint hazards?
Maybe. The City says owners may apply for financial help when hazards are found, based on income, children under six and owner occupancy. The County has a no-cost program with income and child rules. Funds are limited, so call each office first to learn what is open now.
Does my landlord have to test for lead paint?
No. EPA says the disclosure rule does not require landlords to get a paint inspection. A landlord must share what they know, give you the EPA pamphlet and include a lead warning statement. You may ask your landlord to get a certified inspection before you sign.
How long does a buyer have to test for lead paint?
Under the federal rule, sellers of pre-1978 homes must give buyers a 10-day period to do a paint inspection or risk assessment, unless buyer and seller agree in writing to a different period, or the buyer waives it in writing. Ask your agent how your contract handles the window.
Who may remove lead paint in Missouri?
Missouri DHSS says anyone doing abatement, which means removal, replacement, enclosure or encapsulation, must be licensed by DHSS. Paint chip sampling must be done by a licensed lead-based paint inspector or risk assessor. Owners should not scrape, sand or burn old paint.
Does the EPA renovation rule apply to a rental or a flip?
Yes. EPA says the RRP rule generally does not apply to owners working on their own pre-1978 home. It does apply if you rent all or part of your home, run a child care center in it, or buy, renovate and sell homes for profit.
Terms on this page
Sources
- 40 CFR 745.83: minor repair and maintenance limits
- 40 CFR 745.110(a): 10-day period unless agreed otherwise in writing
- 40 CFR 745.110(b): buyer may waive in writing
- 40 CFR 745.101: lead-free exemption covers leases only
- St. Louis County Healthy Homes FAQ: lead inspection eligibility
- City of St. Louis: Lead Inspection and Hazard Control Division
- City of St. Louis: Lead Inspection (financial assistance)
- City of St. Louis Community Development: LHR grant notice (03/26/2025)
- St. Louis County Office of Community Development: Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Program flyer (undated)
- St. Louis County Public Health: Healthy Homes
- St. Louis County Public Health: Healthy Homes (grant closed)
- US EPA: Real Estate Disclosures about Potential Lead Hazards
- US EPA: Real Estate Disclosures (landlord testing)
- US EPA: Real Estate Disclosures (records)
- US EPA: Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program
- Missouri DHSS: Lead Licensing (abatement license)
- Missouri DHSS: Lead Licensing (paint chip sampling)
- Missouri DHSS: Lead Licensing (RRP thresholds)
Written by Advanced Environmental Services and checked against the sources above on November 6, 2026. Rules change, so check the linked page before you act.
