Short answer: two Colorado rules change a house painting job. If your home was built before 1978, lead-safe paperwork and practices apply when 2 or more square feet of painted surface is disturbed. If you want to scrape a textured or popcorn ceiling, an asbestos inspection is required first when more than 32 square feet will be disturbed.
Homes built before 1978: lead-safe rules
Colorado's Air Quality Control Commission Regulation No. 19, Part B, sets pre-renovation education requirements for housing built before 1978 and for child-occupied facilities. They apply when 2 or more square feet of painted surface will be disturbed by sanding, scraping, cutting or demolition.
- The painter must give you the EPA pamphlet Renovate Right at least 7 days before work begins.
- You sign a receipt confirming you got it.
- The federal EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule still applies, including certification.
Painting over intact paint without disturbing it is different from scraping it. In practice, almost every exterior repaint on an older house involves scraping loose paint, so expect the paperwork.
Popcorn and textured ceilings: asbestos
For single-family homes, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment requires an inspection by a Colorado-certified asbestos building inspector before disturbing more than 32 square feet of material, 50 linear feet of pipe, or a 55-gallon drum's volume. Do the arithmetic: a 10 by 12 foot bedroom ceiling is 120 square feet, nearly four times the trigger.
CDPHE notes a possible exemption for buildings constructed after October 12, 1988. If your house is older than that, plan on testing before anyone scrapes.
What it means for your schedule
| Your house | Add to the plan |
|---|---|
| Built before 1978, exterior repaint | Pamphlet at least 7 days ahead; lead-safe containment and cleanup |
| Built before 1978, interior with sanding or patching | Same pamphlet timing; containment in the rooms being worked |
| Textured or popcorn ceiling removal (more than 32 sq ft) | Certified inspection before work; abatement first if it tests positive |
| Built after Oct 12 1988 | Check CDPHE's guidance on the possible asbestos exemption |
Voice answer: how far ahead do I get the Renovate Right pamphlet?
At least 7 days before work starts, under Colorado's Regulation 19 for pre-1978 housing, and you sign a receipt.