On Oct. 19, Norristown Municipal Council voted unanimously to advertise a proposed ordinance requiring lead paint testing for all rental properties and homes being sold in the municipality.
Prior to the vote, council heard from several environmental experts who outlined the need for lead paint testing in the community, as the occurrence of lead poisoning in children under six is higher in Norristown than any other community in the state, including Philadelphia. The problem is exacerbated by the high percentage (95.6%) of properties in Norristown that were built prior to 1978, when the US banned the manufacture of lead-based house paint.
Under the current draft of the proposed ordinance, homes rented after Jan. 1, 2022, will need to go through an initial inspection to determine whether the property is either “lead free” or “lead safe.” Homes being sold after Jan. 1, 2022, will need to be inspected to determine the same. Owner-occupied homes that are found to have lead paint will not be treated as a “substantial violation” under Act 133 of 2016 — meaning a new buyer will be able to receive a temporary occupancy certificate and occupy the home with 12 months to make the repairs.
The Alliance will meet with council to further discuss certain aspects of the proposed ordinance, as well as ongoing customer service issues in the municipality.
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