Most houses in St. Louis and its older suburbs were built before 1978, the year lead was banned from house paint in the United States. That makes lead rules a normal part of painting here. This page also covers permits, historic districts, HOAs and storefronts.
This page is general information for Missouri homeowners, landlords and tenants. It is not legal advice. The agencies named here have the final word.
My house was built before 1978. Do I need to worry about lead paint?
Yes, you should assume a house built before 1978 may have lead paint somewhere, usually on the older layers of trim, windows, doors and porches. Lead paint that is intact and covered is a low risk. The danger is dust and chips, made when old paint peels or is sanded, scraped or cut.
Children under six and pregnant women are most at risk. The older the house, the more likely lead is present, and much of St. Louis was built before 1940.
How do I know if old paint contains lead?
The only way to know if paint contains lead is to test it. A licensed lead inspector or risk assessor can test surfaces across the house. In Missouri, the state health department says paint chip sampling must be done by a licensed lead-based paint inspector or risk assessor.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services runs the Lead Licensing Program, which licenses lead inspectors, risk assessors, abatement workers, supervisors, project designers and abatement contractors. By the national figures, a lead inspection costs $300 to $700 and a risk assessment $500 to $1,500.
Can you paint over lead paint or must it be removed?
Lead paint does not have to be removed in most homes. Sound lead paint can be painted over, which seals it in. Lead paint that is peeling has to be made stable first with lead-safe methods, and then primed and painted.
Full removal is called abatement. In Missouri that is separate work done by state-licensed abatement contractors, not ordinary repainting. Friction surfaces such as window sashes and door edges keep making dust even after painting, so some owners choose to replace those parts.
What certification does a painter need for pre-1978 homes?
A painter paid to disturb paint in a pre-1978 home must work for an EPA certified renovation firm and have a certified renovator on the job. This is the federal Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, known as RRP. It applies when work disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface per room inside, or more than 20 square feet outside.
Missouri does not run its own version of this rule. The EPA does, through its Region 7 office, and the Missouri health department refers contractors there at 1-800-223-0425. The firm must give you the EPA pamphlet Renovate Right before the work starts. Ask any painter you are considering to show their EPA firm certificate.
Do lead rules change the price?
Yes, lead-safe work can raise the price, because it adds plastic sheeting, warning signs, careful scraping methods, special vacuuming and a cleaning check at the end. No national figure is published for the extra cost on a paint job.
Full lead paint removal is a different scale. The published national figures are $6 to $17 per square foot, with encapsulation at $6 to $10.
Who is responsible for lead paint disclosure on a rental?
The landlord is. Federal law requires landlords of most pre-1978 housing to disclose any known lead paint and hazards before a lease is signed, hand over any reports they have, and give the tenant the EPA pamphlet Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home. Sellers have the same duty to buyers.
The lease must include a lead warning statement. A painter is not responsible for the disclosure, but a landlord who hires painters for a pre-1978 rental must use an EPA certified firm when the work disturbs paint.
Do I need a permit to paint the outside of my house?
Painting alone does not normally need a building permit in St. Louis or the nearby towns. A permit comes in when the job includes more than paint, such as replacing siding, rebuilding a porch or repairing masonry.
If we need to block the sidewalk or street in the City of St. Louis, the Street Department requires a Blocking Right of Way Permit. If you are unsure, the City of St. Louis Building Division or your own town's building department can confirm for your address.
Are there paint rules in a historic district?
Yes. The City of St. Louis says that if your property is in a City historic district, you need a permit for any exterior work except the painting of wood trim. The Cultural Resources Office reviews those permits against each district's standards.
So repainting wood trim is the simple case. Painting bare brick or stone, changing a storefront or painting a mural is not, and you should ask the Cultural Resources Office before any work starts. St. Louis has many City historic districts, including Soulard and Lafayette Square. Nearby towns have their own review boards for some streets.
Do I need HOA approval to change my exterior color, and can the HOA fine me?
If your home is in an HOA or a subdivision with trustees and recorded indentures, you usually need written approval before changing an exterior color. Whether the HOA can fine you depends on its own documents, so read them or ask the board.
This comes up most in Chesterfield, Ballwin and other west county subdivisions, and in condo buildings. Get the approval in writing before we order paint. We can supply color samples for the application.
Do I need a permit to paint a storefront or commercial building?
Paint alone on a storefront does not normally need a building permit, but three things around it often do: new or changed signs, blocking the sidewalk, and any exterior change in a City historic district. Check with the city or town before work starts.
Tenants should also get the landlord's approval in writing. Many leases control the color and look of the front.
Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lead program; Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Lead Licensing Program; City of St. Louis Cultural Resources Office and Street Department. Checked October 2026.