Municipal Officials

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.

• To determine whether there are asbestos-containing materials in a building or other structure, a Vermont-licensed Asbestos Inspector needs to conduct an inspection. 
• Asbestos inspections are required:
  • Before renovations in all non-owner occupied housing, no matter the age of the building. The Health Department highly recommends that asbestos inspections are done before renovations in owner occupied buildings, too. 
  • Before the demolition of a building or other structure, no matter the type of use or age of the building. An asbestos inspection report must be submitted to the Health Department along with a notice of demolition at least 10 days before it starts.
• Any asbestos-containing materials (determined by an asbestos inspection report) that will be disturbed by renovation or demolition work must be removed by a Vermont-licensed Asbestos Abatement Company before the work can begin.

• With few exceptions, only Vermont licensed Asbestos Abatement Companies are allowed to perform asbestos abatement (removal) activities. Learn more about handling asbestos-containing materials

• Improper and unsafe handling of asbestos-containing materials may result in the need for asbestos cleanup by a Vermont-licensed Asbestos Abatement Company. 

• Is a building being used for fire safety training? Follow the Department of Environmental Conservation's Fire Training Notification Requirements and make sure you have a Fire Safety Permit.

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.

These are the lead requirements:

• Vermont law assumes any paint, coating, stain or seal in a building or structure built before 1978 contains lead. Exemptions from the Vermont lead regulations are possible by hiring a Vermont-licensed Lead Inspector. Learn more about exemptions

• Any work that disturbs painted surfaces on pre-1978 buildings and other structures must follow lead-safe work practices. 
• Unsafe work practices that disturb lead paint will create lead hazards. Contractors or building owners responsible for creating lead hazards must hire a Vermont licensed Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair, Painting and Maintenance (RRPM) Firm or lead abatement contractor to clean them up.
• Contractors who work on pre-1978 housing and child occupied facilities that disturb painted surfaces need to be RRPM Firm and Supervisor licensed.

• Owners of rental housing and child care facilities built before 1978 must follow Inspection, Repair and Cleaning (IRC) Practices requirements and file an annual compliance statement for each building that they own. Learn more about IRC Practices 

For your website

Consider adding this resource list to your website so your community can easily understand asbestos and lead regulations and find more information:

Vermont law requires that:

• All renovations and demolitions need an asbestos inspection before work is performed. 
• You must notify the Health Department about demolitions at least 10 days before they start using the Vermont Building Demolition Notification form.
• The lead regulations prohibit certain work practices on any pre-1978 building or structure. 
• Renovations on pre-1978 housing or child occupied buildings must be performed by contractors with the Renovation, Repair, Painting and Maintenance (RRPM) licenses.  
• Find Vermont licensed Lead and Asbestos Inspectors and contractors.
• Learn about funding assistance for a healthier home.

For permit application forms

Add this language to your municipality's permit application forms to make sure renovations and demolitions follow requirements.

Asbestos

For renovation and demolition projects, consider adding this form field:

• Include the name of the Vermont licensed Asbestos Consulting Company who will perform the asbestos inspection before the project starts: [field or space for company name]

Include this sentence on demolition forms:

• Use the Vermont Building Demolition Notification form to notify the Health Department of the demolition. This form is required for all demolition projects.

Lead

We suggest adding this using checkboxes or logic: 

• Will this project disturb painted or stained surface?
  • If yes: Is this building pre-1978 housing or a child occupied facility?
    • If yes: Include the name of the RRPM firm doing the project: [enter firm name]

You can order FREE materials for your municipality through our warehouse! These include rack cards and posters you can post in your community, and booklets and fact sheets to share:

Order materials

The resources linked below are fact sheets you can share digitally or print:

Asbestos

• Handling Asbestos-Containing Materials

Lead

For contractors:

• Lead-Safe Work Practices for Contractors
• Vermont Lead Contractor Licensing
• What Contractors Need to Know About Vermont Lead-Safe RRPM

For landlords and child care providers:

• How to Comply with Inspection, Repair and Cleaning (IRC) Practices

For homeowners and tenants:

• Vermont Lead Poisoning Prevention Law: What Renters Need to Know
• What Homeowners and Renters Need to Know About Renovations and Lead
• Finding Lead in Your Home booklet
• Lead-Safe Cleaning
• Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home (EPA): English and Spanish