---
title: "What Is Lead paint registration? Landlord and Renter Glossary"
description: "Lead paint registration is a yearly state registration required for Maryland rental homes built before 1978, with lead inspection certificates at each tenant..."
url: https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/lead-paint-registration
publisher: Real Property Management Gold
phone: +1-301-392-2172
assessment: https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/contact-us#assessment
---

Maryland Law

# Lead paint registration

Lead paint registration is a yearly state registration required for Maryland rental homes built before 1978, with lead inspection certificates at each tenant turnover.

Maryland's lead law covers rental homes built before 1978. Owners must register each property with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), renew every year, and provide valid lead inspection certificates at each tenant turnover, unless the property is certified lead-free. As of October 2026, MDE lists a $30 per unit registration fee that must also be paid annually.

Registration is only part of it. Owners must also get a lead risk reduction certificate at every change in tenancy, and give tenants education materials before they move in and every two years after. Owner-occupied homes are not regulated, but a rented pre-1978 home is, no matter how much it has been renovated.

Plan the inspection into your turnover schedule so a home is never listed without a certificate. It fits naturally into [make-ready](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/make-ready) work. Our [lead paint compliance](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/landlord-center/dme-lead-paint-compliance) guide explains each step. Check with your county too, because local registration may also apply; see [rental license](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/rental-license).

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check the linked official source or talk to a Maryland attorney.

[Read nextMaryland Lead Paint Rules for Rental Homes Built Before 1978](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/landlord-center/dme-lead-paint-compliance)

## Related terms

-   [Rental license](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/rental-license)
-   [Make-ready](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/make-ready)
-   [Rent-ready](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/rent-ready)

## Sources

1.  [Maryland Department of the Environment: Lead Registration for Landlords](https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/land/leadpoisoningprevention/pages/rentalowners.aspx)
2.  [Maryland Department of the Environment: Rental Property Owner FAQ](https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/land/documents/leadfactsheets/leadfaq.pdf)
3.  [Maryland Department of the Environment: Rental Property Owner FAQ](https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/land/documents/leadfactsheets/leadfaq.pdf)

## Ask what your home could rent for. Free.

A free rental assessment from our offices in Lexington Park and Waldorf. No cost, no contract, no pressure.

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