Provider Referral Form
(pdf)
Lead Hazard Guidance for Urban Gardening (pdf)
Lead-Safe Gardening (pdf)
in Chinese (pdf)
in Spanish (pdf)
Children's Environmental Health Promotion Program
Haroon Ahmad, Childhood Lead Prevention Program Coordinator
(415) 252-3956
Karen Yu, Senior Environmental Health Inspector
(415) 252-3957
More protective lead-dust hazard standards for interior floors and interior window sills were announced by U.S. EPA in 2019 and went into effect on January 6 2020.
With this change, San Francisco Department of Public Health is adopting the following levels as both the risk assessment and clearance levels for "lead-contaminated dust" at properties where children might be exposed. These levels encompass the current definition of "lead-contaminated dust" in the federal Toxic Substances Control Act, the California Code of Regulations, and the San Francisco Health Code.
| Component | Lead-Contaminated Dust Threshold (µg/ft2) | Statute* |
|---|---|---|
| Interior floor | ≥10 | TSCA |
| Other interior horizontal surfaces | ≥40 | SFHC |
| Exterior Floor | ≥400 | SFHC: CCR |
| Other exterior horizontal surfaces | ≥400 | SFHC; CCR |
| Interior window sill | ≥100 | TSCA |
| Exterior window sill/trough | ≥400 | TSCA (Clearance Level definition only); CCR |
* Statute references in the table are as follows:
TSCA: Toxica Substances Control Act, Section 403
SFHC: San Francisco Health Code Section 1603(t)
CCR: California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Section 35035
Department of Building Inspection (Housing Inspection Services): Enforces lead-safe work practices on pre-1979 structures.
San Francisco Rent Board: Can provide information and support in cases of landlord-tenant disputes.
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San Francisco Department of Public Health Environmental Health Branch