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Environmental Health

Childhood Lead Prevention Program

Exposure to lead can harm children's development and mental function. The Childhood Lead Prevention Program is dedicated to eradicating lead hazards and childhood lead poisoning.

Principle Activities and Services

  • Provide education and outreach on lead poisoning prevention.
  • Provide case management support to families of children with lead exposure.
  • Conduct environmental investigations for families with lead-poisoned children.
  • Collect and analyze all lead screening and case related data in San Francisco.
  • Publish the annual newsletter, "Word on Lead Prevention." For past issues, see below.
Word on Lead Prevention

This quarterly newsletter highlights efforts in preventing childhood lead poisoning.

Making a Complaint

It is illegal for property owners to allow lead hazards to exist on their property. If you see badly damaged paint on the exterior or interior of a house, please call contact the Department of Public Health. Property owners will be required to safely repair any hazards that have been identified.

San Francisco law also requires that work on lead-based paint be done safely. If you see work on the interior or exterior of a building that allows dust and paint chips to spread outside of a work area because it is not properly contained or not properly cleaned up, report it to the Health Department.

Additionally, it is illegal for landlords to harass or evict tenants because they report suspected lead hazards. San Francisco has strong tenant rights laws to protect tenants.

To report any of the above problems or a different lead hazard complaint, click here.

Related Agencies

Mayor's Office of Housing: Provides lead hazard remediation grants to property owners.

San Francisco Rent Board: Can provide information and support in cases of landlord-tenant disputes.