myleadsafe › Cities › Toledo, Ohio
Toledo Lead-Safe Certificate for rentals (2026)
Status: phasing in
Who it covers
Single-family homes, duplexes and buildings of up to four units built before 1978 that are rented to anyone other than the owner's immediate family, plus family child care homes. Deadlines roll out by census tract from Dec 31, 2025 to June 30, 2029.
How long it lasts
5 years after a visual and dust-wipe inspection; 20 years after full abatement. File the renewal at least 30 days before it expires.
What it costs
$25 per unit filing fee ($10 to reissue on sale). Inspection about $400 (City of Toledo estimate).
If you don’t comply
After a tract's deadline, the owner gets written notice and 30 days to comply. Renting without a certificate after that is a first-degree misdemeanor, and each day is a separate offense (TMC 1760.99). Ohio caps the fine at $1,000 per offense. The city says it has referred a few hundred owners to Housing Court.
What you need and when
| What you need | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Lead-Safe Certificate Valid 5 years after passing a visual and dust-wipe inspection, or 20 years after full abatement (or proof of no lead paint plus clean soil and a risk-assessor clearance). The Lead-Safe Report must be dated within 6 months of the application. File the renewal at least 30 days before expiry, with a new report and fee. Once your tract's deadline passes, you cannot lease a vacant unit until it has a certificate, and you must give each new tenant a copy. A new owner gets a reissued certificate with the same expiration date. | every 5 years; at each new tenant, if the last one is more than 5 years old; your census tract sets the first deadline (Dec 31, 2025 to June 30, 2029); check the city’s compliance map | $25 per unit filing fee; $10 to reissue on sale; non-refundable |
| Lucas County Auditor rental registration Chapter 1760 also requires registration with the Lucas County Auditor's residential rental registry under Ohio law and TMC 1767. Fee and renewal terms not verified. | - | - |
Not covered
- Buildings with 5 or more units
- Built in 1978 or later
- Units occupied only by the owner or the owner's immediate family
- Properties taken by a government in foreclosure that are scheduled for demolition, scheduled for sale within 12 months, or vacant and secured
- Lucas Metropolitan Housing public housing (inspected separately)
- Sales on a recorded land contract are generally not treated as rentals (city FAQ); lease-to-own is covered
Certificate types
- 5-year Lead-Safe Certificate: Passed a visual check (no deteriorated paint, visible dust or bare soil near the house) and dust wipes from floors, sills and window troughs in at least 4 rooms (12 or more samples). 5 years
- 20-year Lead-Safe Certificate: Complete lead abatement, or a lead-based paint inspection showing no lead paint plus soil under 400 µg/g and a clearance by a licensed lead risk assessor. 20 years
How to get inspected
A 'Local Lead Inspector': an Ohio Department of Health-licensed lead risk assessor, lead inspector or clearance technician who is also registered with the City of Toledo. Inspectors may not certify property they or their family own, have a financial interest in, or have worked on.
Typical cost: About $400 per inspection (City of Toledo) (source). More in what a lead inspection costs.
Fees
- Lead-Safe Certificate filing fee: $25 per unit (codelibrary.amlegal.com)
- Reissue to new owner: $10 (codelibrary.amlegal.com)
- Local lead inspection: about $400 (City of Toledo estimate) (toledo.oh.gov)
What to give tenants
- Give each new tenant a copy of the Lead-Safe Certificate, or proof the building was built after 1978 (TMC 1760.11(e)).
- Before renting, also give the EPA lead pamphlet, any known lead hazard information and the required lease disclosure language (federal rules; listed on the city's owner page).
The federal lead disclosure rule applies on top of this for nearly every rental built before 1978. What it requires.
Where to register or file
City of Toledo permit portal (Lead-Safe Certificate applications) + public Lead-Safe registry; Lucas County Auditor rental registry: online portal; upload a clearance packet per unit (report, lab results, chain of custody, floor plan, exterior photos)
Evictions and rent
TMC 1760.11: an owner may not evict a tenant, or refuse to renew a periodic tenancy, without good cause just to avoid complying. Tenants keep their Ohio Landlord-Tenant Act rights, including rent withholding. Retaliation against tenants who report missing certificates or lead hazards is prohibited.
Keep every certificate on time
myleadsafe is a free binder for small landlords: each unit’s certificates, registrations and due dates, calendar reminders before they run out, and one PDF packet with your proof attached. No sign-up. Your records stay on your device.
Start my free binderQuestions landlords ask
How long is a Toledo Lead-Safe Certificate valid?
Five years for a property that passes the visual and dust-wipe inspection. Twenty years if the property was fully abated or shown to have no lead paint.
When is my Toledo rental's lead-safe deadline?
It depends on the census tract. Deadlines run every six months from Dec 31, 2025 to June 30, 2029. Check the city's Lead Safe Certificate and Compliance Map for your address.
Does Toledo's lead law cover apartment buildings?
Only buildings with one to four units, plus family child care homes. Buildings with five or more units are not covered.
How much does a Toledo lead-safe certificate cost?
The city charges $25 per unit. The inspection is separate and costs about $400, according to the city.
Who can do the lead inspection in Toledo?
An Ohio-licensed lead risk assessor, lead inspector or clearance technician who is also registered with the City of Toledo.
What happens if I miss the deadline?
The city sends a notice giving you 30 days. After that, renting without a certificate is a first-degree misdemeanor, with each day a separate offense.
Last checked November 6, 2026. Law: Toledo Municipal Code Chapter 1760, Residential Rental Properties and Lead Safety Compliance (Ord. 397-20, passed Oct 20, 2020; amended Ord. 48-23, Jan 24, 2023, and Ord. 167-25, April 22, 2025). Agency: City of Toledo Department of Housing and Community Development (took over from the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department on Sept 17, 2025).
This page sums up published rules as of November 6, 2026. It is not legal advice, and myleadsafe is not a government site. Rules and fees change, and local offices add their own steps, so confirm with the city before you rely on a date or a fee.
Sources (8)
- Toledo Municipal Code Chapter 1760 (current, through Ord. 167-25) · coverage, 5/20-year terms, $25/$10 fees, 6-month report window, 30-day renewal, inspection protocol, inspector registration, phase schedule, tenant copy, eviction limits, exemptions, first-degree misdemeanor
- Lead Safe Requirements for Property Owners (City of Toledo) · 1–4 unit scope, ~$400 inspection, inspector registration, tenant notices, land contract FAQ, housing court referral, existing certificates stay valid
- Lead Safe Certificate (City of Toledo) · online portal, clearance packet contents, non-refundable fees
- Lead Safe Ordinance Approved by Toledo City Council (Oct 20, 2020) · 2020 law history, 5- and 20-year certificates, original June 30, 2022 deadline
- Toledo Blade: City eyes lead ordinance tweaks (April 11, 2025) · litigation resolved Jan 2025, reset deadlines, move from health department to city
- Toledo Community Coalition: Lead Safe Landlord-Tenant Education Fair (Oct 20, 2025) · city responsible for processing certificates effective Sept 17, 2025
- WGTE: How Toledo is making more homes lead-safe (Oct 29, 2026) · housing court referrals of a few hundred owners
- Ohio Revised Code 2929.28 · $1,000 maximum fine for a first-degree misdemeanor