Real Estate Professionals | Vermont Department of Health
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Real Estate Professionals
Asbestos & Lead Requirements
Look Up Licensed Asbestos and Lead Contractors
Licenses, Certificates & Permits
Contractors & Other Building Professionals
Child Care Providers & Schools
Municipal Officials
Property Owners & Landlords
Real Estate Professionals
Renters
Inspection, Repair & Cleaning (IRC) Practices
Training for RRPM & IRC Practices
Renovation, Repair, Painting & Maintenance (RRPM) Regulations
Asbestos and Lead Information for Real Estate Professionals
This page outlines the requirements for real estate transactions as well as important information for buyers and sellers to know.
Why are asbestos and lead regulated in Vermont?
Asbestos and lead pose health risks, and they may be found in buildings and other structures. Because of this, the Health Department and the Environmental Protection Agency have specific requirements for the maintenance, renovation and demolition of buildings and other structures.
Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs)
are only dangerous when they are disturbed or handled incorrectly. If ACMs are not handled properly, asbestos particles can be breathed in. Even a small amount of ACM can cause health effects.
Learn more about the hazards and health effects of asbestos
Lead-based paint
becomes a hazard when it is disturbed. This can be from chipping and peeling paint, when painted surfaces rub together, or when the paint is not properly sanded, scraped or burned. If lead-based paint is not handled properly, lead dust can be breathed in or swallowed by workers and by people, especially children, who use the building or other structure.
Learn more about the hazards and health effects of lead
Important Links
Look Up an IRC Practices Statement
Look Up a Licensed Asbestos or Lead Company or Individual
Submit an Asbestos or Lead Complaint
Requirements for Real Estate Transactions
Vermont law
requires sellers to disclose certain information about lead-based paint and provide educational materials approved by the Health Department during real estate transactions for all pre-1978 housing, whether it’s owner-occupied or rental.
Before the time of sale, the
real estate agents, sellers and other transferors of title
are responsible for providing these educational materials to the buyer or transferee when selling a residential rental property:
Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home
Lead-Safe Certified Guide to Renovate Right
Vermont RRPM for Homeowners, Renters and Child Care Providers
Sellers must disclose any information or documentation regarding the presence of lead paint, such as the results of any testing that has been performed, or if there is a Health Department-approved exemption for the property.
Sellers and real estate agents must provide the buyer with a separate
federally required lead law disclosure form
. Federal law requires that buyers be provided with 10 days to conduct a paint inspection or risk assessment for lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards. The buyers may waive the inspection.
Additional requirements for rental housing
In addition to the educational materials and disclosures listed above, rental properties and child care facilities built before 1978 are required to comply with the
Inspection, Repair and Cleaning (IRC) Practices
Sellers must provide buyers with a copy of the current IRC Practices Compliance Statement.
Sellers must disclose if the property is currently subject to an enforcement action, such as an assurance of discontinuance, administrative order or court order.
If the property is not in compliance with IRC Practices at the time of sale:
The buyer must bring the property into full IRC Practices compliance within 60 days of closing, unless the Commissioner of Health grants a time extension.
The buyer may request an extension by emailing
[email protected]
. The Commissioner may grant the request only for good cause.
Failure to bring the property into IRC Practices compliance carries a mandatory civil penalty.
Buyers or other transferees of title must report the sale or transfer of ownership to the Health Department at the time of sale or transfer by creating an account in the
Asbestos & Lead Regulatory Program Licensing and Permitting Portal
and linking the property to their account.
Important Information for Buyers and Sellers to Know
Can properties be inspected for asbestos or lead?
Asbestos
Yes. If the buyer wants the property inspected for asbestos, Vermont law requires that inspections be done only by a
Vermont-licensed Asbestos Inspector
Vermont law also requires asbestos inspections before a renovation or demolition and when asbestos-containing materials are going to be disturbed. You can share the
asbestos fact sheet
with buyers so they have the information they need.
Lead
Yes. Lead-based paint inspections determine whether lead-based paint is present in a building. Federal guidelines require the inspections to be done by a
Vermont-licensed Lead Inspector or Inspector-Risk Assessor
If a property or part of a property is free of lead-based paint, owner(s) of pre-1978 housing or child-occupied facilities may apply to be exempt from some or all parts of the lead regulations.
The State of Vermont does not require properties to be inspected for lead if the owners assume there is lead paint or coatings and treat the property accordingly.
Does asbestos or lead need to be removed from a home or building?
Asbestos
Asbestos is required by law to be removed from a home or building only if it is going to be demolished or renovated, or if asbestos-containing materials are damaged. You can share the
asbestos fact sheet
with buyers so they have the information they need.
Lead
No. Lead does not need to be removed from a home or building, unless due to a court order or similar legal action.
Can the home or building be tested for asbestos or lead hazards?
Asbestos
If the buyer wants to know whether there are asbestos-containing materials in a home or building, they need to hire a
Vermont-licensed Asbestos Inspector
to conduct an inspection.
The Health Department recommends that buyers have a full building asbestos inspection performed by a Vermont-licensed Asbestos Inspector soon after purchasing a property. This inspection tells the buyer where asbestos-containing materials are so they will then know which parts to maintain in good condition or which parts must be abated by a Vermont-licensed Asbestos Abatement Company for any renovation.
You can share the
asbestos fact sheet
with buyers so they have the information they need.
Lead
Lead-Based Paint
If the buyer wants to confirm whether lead-based paint is on a home or building, they need to hire a
Vermont-licensed Lead Inspector or Inspector-Risk Assessor
to conduct a lead inspection or risk assessment.
Drinking Water
Test kits for lead in drinking water can be purchased from the Health Department Laboratory.
Find out more about testing for lead in drinking water
Are there laws for renovation or other work done on homes or other buildings?
Asbestos
Yes. Under Vermont law, only licensed contractors are allowed to perform asbestos abatement activities and must follow the
regulations regarding the handling and disposal of asbestos-containing materials
Unsafe handling of asbestos-containing materials often leads to the need for asbestos cleanup by a
Vermont-licensed Asbestos Abatement Company
You can share the
asbestos fact sheet
with buyers so they have the information they need.
Lead
Under Vermont law, contractors are required to be
licensed when they work on buildings built before 1978
and must use
lead-safe work practices
Unsafe work practices that disturb lead-based paint will create lead hazards (see Section 5).
Under Vermont law, if lead hazards are created in any building or structure, the owner will be responsible for the cleanup
More Information
Vermont Regulations for Asbestos Control
Vermont Regulations for Lead Control
Asbestos & Lead Regulatory Program
Mailing Address:
VT Dept of Health
Environmental Health
Asbestos & Lead Regulatory Program
280 State Drive
Waterbury, VT 05671-8350
Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
802-863-7220 or 800-439-8550 (toll-free in Vermont)
December 16, 2025