Older city housing makes lead paint a normal question

Much of St. Louis City’s housing stock is old brick built well before 1978, the year lead-based paint was restricted for residential use. That makes lead paint a normal, manageable question rather than an alarm.

Federal rules require lead-based paint disclosure for pre-1978 housing. The City also has a childhood-lead program and guidance for testing and safe work practices. When buying or renovating an older city home, read the disclosure, consider a paint or dust assessment, and follow lead-safe practices during repairs.

This is a checklist item, not a reason to avoid older neighborhoods. The useful move is to make the risk visible before work starts.

Renters can use the same habit by asking about disclosures, testing, and safe repair practices before dust is created.