Upper Darby Township Council passed a lead-poisoning-prevention ordinance requiring properties built before 1978 to be certified lead safe or lead free. Amrinder Singh, director of Licenses and Inspections, said the ordinance includes rentals, child care facilities, and condemned or unsafe properties, and applies to properties subject to real estate transfer inspections and use and occupancy requirements. The ordinance requires all rental properties to be tested and certified lead safe or lead free with a license renewal, all houses to be certified at transfer, and all child care facilities to be certified on license renewal. The purpose of the ordinance is “to identify and address lead-based hazards before children, families, residents, homeowners and other occupants are exposed to preventable harm,” Singh said. A certified third-party professional would verify structures are lead safe or lead free. Beginning Jan. 1 all rentals in the township will need to be tested. Non-rental homes would be tested at the time of property transfer. That certification would be renewed every three years for rentals, Singh said. Once found lead free, the status would remain with the property through future owners. The township will establish a fee for rentals to carry out the program.
Source: Daily Times; 8/21/2026