goraedu
Menu

Home inspector topics: lead disclosure and radon

Practice questions and study guides on two federal topics that come up in home sales and inspections: EPA's lead-based paint disclosure rule for pre-1978 housing, and EPA's guidance on testing for and reducing radon.

Fact-checked against official sources · Last checked

What these pages cover, and what they don't

The real test or credential

Home inspector licensing is set by each State that regulates the work. Federal rules and guidance touch two topics that come up in home sales: EPA's lead-based paint disclosure rule for pre-1978 housing and EPA's radon guidance.

Our pages

These pages cover 40 CFR 745 Subpart F and EPA's radon guides for home buyers, sellers and owners. State licensing rules, inspection standards of practice, building systems and any national or State exam are not covered.

Checked against these official pages on November 6, 2026. Practice here does not replace the official training or test.

Scope and sources

Everything here comes from the current eCFR text of 40 CFR Part 745 Subpart F and from EPA's published radon guides. EPA's radon guides are recommendations, not regulations. State home inspector licensing rules, standards of practice, building systems, HUD's matching disclosure rule and any State or national exam are not covered. These pages help you study; they are not a course or exam. Home inspector licensing is set by each State, and State and local rules may add their own requirements, so check yours too. goraedu does not train, test, license or certify home inspectors, and our questions are not a State licensing exam or any national home inspector exam. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. EPA, HUD, any State or any certification body.

Key points, in the sources' words

  • The federal lead disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978, except housing for the elderly or persons with disabilities and 0-bedroom dwellings where no child under 6 lives or is expected to live.

    “Target housing means any housing constructed prior to 1978, except housing for the elderly or persons with disabilities or any 0-bedroom dwelling (unless any child who is less than 6 years of age resides or is expected to reside in such housing).”
    40 CFR 745.103

  • Before a buyer or tenant is bound by the contract, the seller or landlord must give them an EPA-approved lead hazard pamphlet and disclose any known lead-based paint or hazards.

    “The seller or lessor shall disclose to the purchaser or lessee the presence of any known lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards in the target housing being sold or leased.”
    40 CFR 745.107(a)(2)

  • A buyer gets a 10-day period to have a risk assessment or inspection done, unless both sides agree in writing on a different period; the buyer may also waive it in writing.

    “Before a purchaser is obligated under any contract to purchase target housing, the seller shall permit the purchaser a 10-day period (unless the parties mutually agree, in writing, upon a different period of time) to conduct a risk assessment or inspection for the presence of lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards.”
    40 CFR 745.110(a)

  • EPA recommends testing for radon when buying or selling a home, and fixing the home if the level is 4 pCi/L or higher.

    “Fix the home if the radon level is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher.”
    EPA, Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon

Sources

goraedu does not train, test, license or certify home inspectors, and our questions are not a State licensing exam or any national home inspector exam. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. EPA, HUD, any State or any certification body. Found an error? See our contact page.