California Lead Disclosure: Prop 65 and Title X Explained

California landlords have double the work. You need the Federal Title X form AND the Prop 65 warning. Here is how to handle both.

If you own rental property in California, federal compliance is just the starting line. You also have to deal with Proposition 65.

The Federal Baseline (Title X)

As with all states, if your property was built before 1978, you must:

1. Provide the EPA Pamphlet.
2. Disclose known hazards.
3. Sign the federal form.

The California Layer (Prop 65)

Proposition 65 requires businesses to provide warnings about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer or reproductive harm. Lead is on this list.

• The Warning: You generally need to post a specific "WARNING" sign in the building or include specific language in the lease.
• Pre-1978 vs Post-1978: Unlike federal law which stops at 1978, Prop 65 applies if you know there is lead exposure, regardless of the building year (though pre-1978 is the most common source).

San Francisco & Los Angeles

Cities like SF and LA have their own local ordinances regarding lead hazards, often tied to code enforcement. If you receive a citation for peeling paint, it triggers a whole separate timeline for abatement that goes beyond simple disclosure.

Recommendation: Use our platform to generate the Federal form, but ensure your lease agreement also contains the standard CAR (California Association of Realtors) lead addendum to cover your state-specific bases.