Who can measure lead levels in paint in an Ottawa home?

Two options exist for measuring lead levels in paint in an Ottawa home: a certified inspector can test paint lead levels on site, or you can mail paint chip samples to a testing laboratory.

Health Canada notes that your home probably contains lead-based paint if it was built before 1960. If it was built between 1960 and 1990, the exterior may contain lead-based paint, and interior surfaces may also contain lead in smaller amounts that could still be harmful, especially to young children. Houses built after 1990 should not contain lead, because all consumer paints produced in Canada and the United States were virtually lead-free by then.

Health Canada describes both options but does not rank one above the other, and we found no published Ottawa prices for either service with enough sources to give a reliable range.

Ontario's lead guideline notes that under section 30 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, a project owner must determine whether lead is present and inform potential contractors before work begins. How section 30 applies when the owner also occupies the home is not settled, so if you are planning a renovation or hiring a contractor, it is worth raising the question with the contractor or the Ministry of Labour. Separately, ask for the removal method, the dust containment and the cleanup in writing before any work on painted surfaces starts.

We found no City of Ottawa permit specific to lead paint testing or removal. Ontario's lead guideline is a guideline, not a regulation, and it says it does not replace the Occupational Health and Safety Act and should not be used as legal advice.

If you have already disturbed a painted surface in a home built before 1990 and are concerned about lead, stop the work and have the paint tested using one of the two options above.