Lead Paint Removal in Martinez

Martinez houses and small buildings put up before 1978 can use Concord Lead Paint Removal for removal, abatement, testing and encapsulation. A certified inspector tests before anything else, and the findings determine what comes off, what is sealed and what stays as it is.

The 2020-2024 American Community Survey dates 58.1% of Martinez homes to before 1980, 22.1% to before 1960 and 14.0% to before 1950, the oldest share of the two Concord neighbors. About 79% of its homes are single-family and 29% are rented, which makes it more an owner’s town than a renter’s one.

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Older porch with peeling painted railings and columns

An example project

Two-story Victorian house with painted wood siding and ornate trim, a ladder against the wall and plastic sheeting on the ground in front

Ornate porch columns and entry trim stripped on a Victorian house

Example project

Home: 1890s Victorian house in an older Martinez neighborhood, two stories with painted wood siding and ornate trim
Original request: Strip the lead paint from the front porch and entry before the house is repainted
Testing: Lead paint on the porch columns, brackets, railing and the trim around the front door
Surfaces: The front porch and entry, about 150 sq ft
Notice: CDPH Form 8551 posted and sent at least five days ahead; neighbors told in writing
Estimated cost: $4,200

In this example, the owners of an 1890s Victorian in Martinez are repainting the house in stages and start with the front porch, where turned columns, brackets and railing hold many layers of paint. A test shows lead paint on the columns, brackets, railing and the trim around the front door.

See the full example and more projects

Lead paint services

Older neighborhood houses

Martinez has 1,384 homes from 1939 or earlier and 736 from the 1940s, about 14% of its 15,178 homes. Porch rails, columns, casings and siding of that age may carry layer after layer of paint, so test before sanding or stripping.

Buildings in the downtown historic overlay

Martinez’s zoning code includes a Downtown Historic Overlay District covering the Downtown Core and Civic Districts. Lead work on a listed building raises a second question, which is how much of the old material can be taken away, so ask the city whether the building is listed before you plan removal.

Inspection and testing

In Martinez a paid inspection or risk assessment must come from a certified Inspector/Assessor, who files the result on Form 8552. The report identifies which surfaces carry lead-based paint, and everything else can be left alone. See lead paint inspection and testing for each type of evaluation.

Removal and abatement

Certified Supervisor and Workers do abatement in Martinez after Form 8551 has reached CDPH and been posted. For painted wood outdoors, expect ground sheeting and a contained work zone; exterior lead paint removal covers the methods.

Sealing and interim controls

A Martinez house of some age may have paint sound enough to coat or cover instead of stripping. Title 17 treats a treatment built for 20 years or longer as abatement, and a shorter-lived one as an interim control that must still meet Title 17. Read lead paint encapsulation for the trade-offs.

Historic resources in Martinez

The Downtown Historic Overlay District is chapter 22.27 of Martinez’s zoning code, adopted by Ordinance 1328 in 2006. For a listed building in the overlay, the code applies the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation to demolition or substantial modification. Confirm the current chapter with the City of Martinez planning staff.

Unlisted properties

For unlisted structures, the same chapter brings historic considerations into design review case by case, and proposals for substantial modification, demolition or new construction go to the Martinez Historic Society for comment. A repaint that disturbs lead paint is still subject to lead-safe rules whether or not the city reviews it.

Contra Costa County resources

CDPH’s county directory lists a Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program run by Contra Costa County Public Health, at (925) 608-5318. Ask the county whether any repair help applies to you; no funding is promised here.

Martinez Municipal Code chapter 22.27 CDPH: county childhood lead poisoning prevention programs Census Reporter: Martinez housing (ACS 2020-2024)

Old wood window sash and sill with many layers of chipped, peeling white paint

Frequently asked questions

Does Martinez have historic review for exterior work?

Its zoning code has a downtown historic overlay with mandatory standards for listed buildings and case-by-case consideration for others, per the code text. Ask Martinez planning whether a building is listed and check the current chapter on the city’s site before planning exterior changes to an older downtown building.

Is there a lead paint program for Martinez homeowners?

CDPH’s county directory lists a childhood lead poisoning prevention program run by Contra Costa County Public Health. Whether any repair help is available to you is a question for the county.

Can I test my Martinez house myself?

CDPH notes that homeowners may take samples in their own home. A paid inspection or risk assessment is done by a CDPH Inspector/Assessor, and a Project Monitor may do clearance alone, so ask before relying on a homeowner sample for a sale or lease.

Next door, our Pleasant Hill page covers a 1950s subdivision town where the stock is younger than here but the rentals are more numerous.

Request a free lead paint removal quote

Is the building downtown or in a neighborhood, and when did it go up? Mention any chance it is listed and which surfaces are peeling. We'll get back to you soon with an estimate or any questions we have. Estimates are free and there's no obligation.

Call (925) 445-2575