Lead is everywhere, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a problem
Licensed Lead Risk Assessments, Clearance Exams & Testing
Whether you need an official Lead Risk Assessment (Now on Promo for $500/unit), a 2-Year Lead Safe Clearance Exam ($690) for Cleveland or Youngstown rental compliance, or Peace-of-Mind Surface Testing ($300) for your home, our Ohio Department of Health (ODH) licensed inspectors deliver certified lab results with Next-Day, 2-Day, or 3-Day rush options.
Transparent Lead Testing & Inspection Pricing
Every service is performed by an ODH-licensed professional and includes accredited EPA laboratory analysis and official reporting.
Lead Risk Assessment
Full Property Hazard & Grant Evaluation
- Complete Hazard Mapping: Identifies deteriorated lead paint, interior lead dust hazards, and bare soil contamination.
- Grants, Tax Credits & Compliance: Required baseline report for Lead Safe Ohio grants, up to $10k Ohio Abatement Tax Credits, and municipal compliance.
- Actionable Remediation Plan: Official ODH-licensed Risk Assessor report detailing exact repair options.
Lead Clearance Exam
2-Year Rental Lead-Safe Certificate
- Cleveland & Youngstown Ordinances: Satisfies mandatory 2-year Lead-Safe rental registry and eviction compliance.
- Post-Remediation Sign-Off: Clears units following window replacements, paint stabilization, or municipal lead orders.
- Official ODH Clearance Report: Ready for direct upload to the Cleveland Citizen Access Portal or Youngstown registry.
Peace of Mind Test
5-Sample Surface & Dust Evaluation
- Tests 5 Indoor Surfaces: Ideal for nurseries, friction windows, playrooms, and pre-purchase home inspections.
- Accredited EPA Lab Analysis: Measures exact quantitative lead levels so you know if your family is safe.
- Expandable On-Site: Add extra dust-wipe or surface samples for +$50 each, or a Visual Hazard Audit for +$100.
Expedited Lab Results & Official Report Turnaround
Soil Sampling & Inspection Enhancements
Lead Risk Assessment vs. Clearance Exam: Which Do You Need?
Selecting the right state-licensed inspection saves you money and prevents rejected municipal or grant applications.
| Feature / Requirement | Lead Risk Assessment ($500 Promo) | Lead Clearance Exam ($690) | Peace of Mind Test ($300) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verified Reviews | ★★★★★ 5.0 (86 Reviews) | ★★★★★ 5.0 (42 Reviews) | ★★★★★ 5.0 (23 Reviews) |
| Primary Purpose | Identifies existing lead hazards, deteriorated paint, dust, & soil contamination + provides an official remediation plan. | Certifies a rental unit is clean and “Lead-Safe” after paint repairs or maintenance prior to tenant occupancy. | Non-regulatory diagnostic testing for homebuyers and parents checking specific rooms or surfaces for lead. |
| Best For | Lead Safe Ohio Grants, Ohio Tax Credits, HUD compliance, & full-unit hazard evaluations. | Cleveland & Youngstown Landlords securing their mandatory 2-Year Lead-Safe Certificate. | Pre-Purchase Homebuyers and families renovating pre-1978 homes. |
| Required ODH License | Must be an ODH-Licensed Lead Risk Assessor. | ODH-Licensed Clearance Technician, Lead Inspector, or Risk Assessor. | Performed by our ODH-Licensed Lead Risk Assessor. |
Cleveland Lead Safe Certification
Cleveland Ordinance 646-2019 requires all pre-1978 residential rental units to hold an active Lead-Safe Certificate. We deliver the official ODH clearance and risk assessment reports required by the City of Cleveland.
The Mandate
All Cleveland and Youngstown residential rental units built before January 1, 1978, must be certified as “Lead-Safe.”
Validation Period
A standard Lead-Safe Clearance Certification is valid for two years from the date of passage.
The Exemption
Owner-occupied units where the landlord actively resides are legally exempt from the rental clearance requirement.
The Official 6-Step Compliance Path
Check Your Property
Verify your pre-1978 build date and rental registration status.
Stabilize Paint
Use EPA RRP-safe methods to repair any peeling, chipping, or flaking paint.
HEPA & Wet Clean
Deep-clean window wells, sills, and floors 24–48 hours before inspection.
Book Our ODH Exam
We perform the visual exam and collect EPA lab dust-wipe samples.
Upload Passed Report
Submit our signed ODH report to the Cleveland Citizen Access Portal.
Claim Grants / Credits
Apply for Lead Safe Cleveland grants or up to $10,000 in state tax credits.
Youngstown Lead Risk Assessments & Clearances
For property investors, landlords, and homeowners in Youngstown and Warren, our ODH-licensed Lead Risk Assessors provide fast scheduling for rental registry compliance, $500 promotional risk assessments, and post-remediation clearances.
Youngstown Rental Registry
Secure your Lead-Safe Certification to keep your Youngstown rental license active and protect your portfolio from municipal penalties.
Post-Remediation Clearances
Failed a previous exam or completed window/paint repairs? We perform the state-mandated $690 clearance exam to close out your work order.
$500 Promo Risk Assessments
Applying for Lead Safe Ohio grant funding? Take advantage of our $500/unit Lead Risk Assessment promotion for your baseline property audit.
Residential Lead Testing for Homebuyers & Families
Backed by 23 five-star Peace of Mind testing reviews, we help Northeast Ohio families detect invisible lead dust and paint hazards in pre-1978 homes.
Pre-Purchase Lead Paint & Dust Testing
Standard home inspections do not test for lead. Before closing on an older home, our $300 5-Sample Surface Test gives you concrete laboratory numbers—with Next-Day ($150), 2-Day ($100), or 3-Day ($75) rush turnaround options to meet tight inspection contingency deadlines.
Protecting Infants & Growing Children
Invisible lead dust from friction surfaces (original double-hung windows, painted doors, and porches) is the #1 source of childhood lead exposure. Choose our $300 5-Sample Surface Test or our $500 promotional full-unit Lead Risk Assessment for complete clarity.
The 3-Step Process: How Landlords Pass
Follow this exact protocol before our ODH inspector arrives to avoid failed visual exams or elevated lab dust readings.
Property Preparation (24–48 Hours Before Arrival)
Eliminate all peeling, flaking, or chalking paint inside and outside the structure. Perform a three-bucket wet wipe and HEPA vacuum cleaning 24 to 48 hours prior to inspection so airborne dust settles and is wiped away. Zero visible dust, debris, or paint chips can remain in window troughs, sills, or floors.
The Mandatory ODH Visual Assessment
Our ODH-licensed inspector conducts a strict visual audit of all painted surfaces and bare soil. By Ohio law, if visible paint chips, deteriorated paint, or surface dust are present, the property automatically fails the visual stage before lab wipes can be collected.
EPA Dust-Wipe Sampling & Certified Lab Clearance
Once the visual exam passes, we collect dust-wipe samples (up to 12 included) from floors, interior window sills, and window troughs. When accredited lab analysis confirms lead dust falls below EPA clearance thresholds, we issue your official signed ODH report.
Ohio Lead Grants & Tax Credits
State and local funding programs help offset the cost of lead testing and remediation. Pinnacle Inspection Services provides the licensed ODH documentation required for reimbursement.
Ohio Lead Abatement Tax Credit
Qualifying Ohio property owners can claim a state income tax credit of up to $10,000 for eligible lead abatement costs, including our $500 promotional Lead Risk Assessments and $690 Clearance Examinations.
Lead Safe Ohio & Coalition Grants
The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition and the Ohio Department of Development offer substantial grants for window replacement and paint stabilization. Book our $500 Risk Assessment or $690 Clearance Exam for official grant documentation.
Inspected by Jim Husseini, B.S., C.P.I.
Pinnacle Inspection Services is licensed by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) as a Licensed Lead Risk Assessor, Licensed Lead Inspector, and Licensed Lead Clearance Technician. Serving Northeast Ohio property owners since 2005 with 151 five-star lead testing reviews.
Lead Testing & Risk Assessment FAQs
What is the difference between the $500 Lead Risk Assessment and the $690 Lead Clearance Exam?
How fast can I get my lab results and official ODH report?
What happens if my property fails the visual inspection?
What happens if my property fails the lab (dust-wipe) test?
What are the most common fail points during a lead inspection?
Northeast Ohio Lead Testing Service Areas
Counties Served: Cuyahoga County • Mahoning County • Summit County • Portage County • Stark County • Trumbull County • Lake County • Geauga County • Lorain County • Medina County
Primary Cities: Cleveland • Youngstown • Akron • Kent • Canton • Warren • Stow • Cuyahoga Falls • Lakewood • Cleveland Heights • Euclid • Parma • Barberton • Mentor • Elyria • Lorain
View Legislation & Regulatory Sources
Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition: Official hub for the 6-step process, financial aid, and environmental cleaning guides (leadsafe.clevelandohio.gov).
Cleveland City Ordinance: Ord. No. 646-2019 defining “Lead Safe” residential rental properties and exemptions (clevelandcitycouncil.org).
Ohio Department of Health (ODH): Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3701-32 governing Lead Risk Assessments, Lead Inspections, Clearance Examinations, and EPA dust-wipe thresholds (odh.ohio.gov).
U.S. EPA: Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule and Dust-Lead Hazard Standards (epa.gov/lead).
Financial Aid: Ohio Department of Taxation (Lead Abatement Tax Credit) and Ohio Department of Development (“Lead Safe Ohio” Program).