Lowe’s Hit With $12.5 Million Penalty Over Lead-Safety Failures in Home Renovations

Key Takeaways

• Penalty: Lowe’s will pay a $12.5 million penalty for alleged violations of EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting rule.
• Scope of Violations: Regulators say the issues stem from renovation work at hundreds of homes between 2019 and 2021 where lead-safe practices weren’t consistently followed.
• Prior Obligations: Lowe’s had been under a 2014 consent decree but failed to fully implement the required compliance terms.
• How Issues Emerged: EPA found violations through Lowe’s mandatory compliance reports and a public tip about renovation work in California.
• New Requirements: The settlement requires Lowe’s to implement a nationwide compliance program ensuring all firms and installers are properly certified in lead-safe work practices.

Deep Dive

Lowe’s Home Centers is facing a $12.5 million penalty and a sweeping compliance overhaul after federal regulators said the company repeatedly fell short of lead-safety requirements during renovation work in older homes, work that stretched across hundreds of properties nationwide between 2019 and 2021.

The Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the proposed settlement on Tuesday, calling it a necessary step after years of compliance issues tied to Lowe’s renovation contractors. The case centers on alleged violations of the EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule, which requires certified firms, trained workers, and protective practices when disturbing paint in homes built before 1978.

Regulators say Lowe’s has been here before. The company entered into a 2014 consent decree that required stronger oversight of the installers and firms it hired to perform renovation work. But according to the EPA, Lowe’s failed to fully follow through and the lapses that followed set the stage for the violations now at issue.

A Renewed Warning on Lead Exposure

Federal officials were blunt about what’s at stake. Lead paint hazards continue to linger in older homes, and disturbing those surfaces without proper precautions can release toxic dust, a danger particularly acute for children.

“Careless handling of lead paint endangers the health of children and other Americans,” said Adam Gustafson, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. He emphasized that certified contractors have the training needed to prevent dangerous exposures during renovation work.

EPA Enforcement Chief Craig Pritzlaff issued a similar warning, noting that ignoring lead-safe rules “can endanger families, especially young children and infants.” The settlement, he said, is designed to ensure Lowe’s future renovation projects are carried out by certified professionals using practices that keep lead dust and paint chips contained.

How the Problems Came to Light

The latest alleged violations didn’t surface all at once. Some were identified through periodic compliance reports Lowe’s was already required to submit under its 2014 settlement. Others appeared after the EPA responded to a public tip about work performed in southern and central California, including door replacements carried out by a Lowe’s-hired firm.

EPA investigators then uncovered additional problems, ultimately concluding that Lowe’s had not consistently ensured its contractors were certified or following required procedures meant to prevent the spread of lead dust during renovations.

Even though the federal government banned residential lead-based paint in 1978, the material remains in millions of older houses and apartments. When that paint deteriorates or is disturbed during remodeling, it can generate fine dust that is easily ingested by young children. Health effects can range from behavioral and learning challenges to seizures and, in the most severe cases, death.

Health officials continue to stress that blood testing is the only way to determine if a child has elevated lead levels, urging parents to talk to a healthcare provider if they suspect exposure.

What Lowe’s Must Do Now

As part of the settlement, Lowe’s will adopt a corporate-wide program to make sure the contractors and firms it hires for renovation work are properly certified and trained in lead-safe practices. The overhaul aims to prevent the problems identified in the 2019–2021 renovation period and bring the company fully into compliance with the RRP rule.

The agreement still requires court approval, but regulators say the penalty and program changes are structured to prevent a repeat of past failures and to reduce the chances that renovation work spreads hazardous dust into family homes.

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