Lead Information for Child Care Providers

Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) Regulations aid to protect children from lead paint hazards in family child care homes, group child care homes and child care centers.

Lead poisoning in children can cause developmental delays, difficulty learning, behavioral issues and neurological damage. Young children are more likely to be exposed to lead paint and lead dust due to their hand-to-mouth behavior. 

Child Care Centers and Group Child Care Homes

For Child Care Centers and Group Child Care Homes, a comprehensive lead inspection is required for centers built before 1978.

Any new centers must have a comprehensive lead inspection completed prior to opening.  

All existing centers should have copies of any previous comprehensive lead inspections on file.

If a center adds any new rooms in a pre-1978 building, a comprehensive lead inspection is required prior to opening.

The comprehensive lead inspection must be completed by a CT DPH-licensed lead consultant.  For more information on how to locate a CT DPH-licensed lead consultant, click here.

• If the CT DPH-licensed lead consultant does not identify lead hazards, no additional documents are required to be submitted.
• If the CT DPH-licensed lead consultant does identify lead hazards, then the lead hazards must be corrected as outlined below.
  • Lead hazards that have been identified are required to be remediated using an EPA RRP-certified firm.
  • Before work can begin, a Lead Hazard Remediation Plan must be developed and submitted to the local health department or district for approval.
    • Model Lead Hazard Remediation Plan for Child Care Facilities
    • Model Lead Management Plan

Family Child Care Homes

For Family Child Care Homes built before 1978, an interior and exterior visual inspection for lead paint is conducted by the OEC child care licensing specialist.  If peeling and chipping paint is observed during the inspection, OEC Child Care Licensing Specialist will collect a paint chip sample and send it to the State Lab to determine if lead is present in the paint.  If the sample is found to be positive for lead, the defective paint must be corrected as outlined below.

CT has a free lead abatement program to safety remove lead hazards from your property. If you operate a family child care home, you may apply. For more information, please visit: https://leadfreect.org/free-lead-removal/family-child-care-home/.

• Those operating within a home with CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 6 RESIDING will be required to have a comprehensive lead inspection completed by the local health department or district. All lead hazards that are found are required to abated by using a DPH-licensed lead abatement contractor.
  • A Lead Abatement Plan must be developed and submitted, by the OEC-Operator, to the local health department or district for review and approval prior to the start of any abatement work. A Lead Abatement Plan may be developed by the OEC-Operator or a DPH-licensed lead consultant.
    • DPH Licensed Lead Consultants
    • Model Lead Abatement Plan
    • Model Lead Management Plan
• Those operating within a home with NO CHILDREN UNDER 6 RESIDING, are required to remediate lead hazards using an EPA RRP-certified firm.
  • If lead hazards are present the OEC-Operator
    • Must complete a corrective action plan which outlines how children will be protected from lead hazards (may be long-term)
  • If the OEC-Operator chooses to remediate the lead hazards, the work must be completed by an EPA RRP-certified firm.
    • The OEC-Operator must provide a self- declaration to their OEC Child Care Licensing Specialist indicating that the work is complete

Please reach out to your OEC Child Care Licensing Specialist for additional assistance and guidance.

Resources

EPA’s RRP Pamphlet for Child Care Providers

EPA RRP Child-Occupied Facility Information Bulletin