Lowe’s to Pay $12.5 Million Penalty for Lead Paint Violations

Federal regulators issue a penalty after uncovering widespread renovation violations, failures to follow lead-safe practices, and serious risks to families in older homes.

• By Stasia DeMarco
• December 01, 2025

The EPA and the Department of Justice have announced a nationwide settlement with Lowe’s Home Centers, LLC, requiring the company to pay a $12.5 million civil penalty for violations of the federal Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule.

According to the agencies, Lowe’s failed to ensure that renovation work performed in homes built before 1978 complied with lead-safe practices. EPA’s investigation found widespread noncompliance across more than 250 renovation jobs in 23 states between 2019 and 2021. The agency cited failures such as the use of uncertified contractors, inadequate containment of dust and paint debris, and the company’s failure to provide residents with required lead-hazard information prior to beginning renovation work.

Lead-based paint, banned in the United States in 1978, remains a major source of childhood lead exposure in older housing. Renovation activities that disturb lead paint can release hazardous dust and chips that pose significant health risks, particularly to children. EPA officials emphasized that improper renovation practices can result in exposure levels known to cause neurological damage, developmental delays, and other long-term health effects.

Under the terms of the settlement, Lowe’s must implement a comprehensive, corporate-wide compliance program designed to prevent future violations. The program requires Lowe’s to use only certified renovation firms and certified renovators, verify the age of every property before beginning work, and maintain an electronic compliance system that documents all lead-safe procedures. Lowe’s is also required to conduct at least 4,000 jobsite inspections and submit regular compliance reports to the EPA for the next three years.

This settlement builds on a 2014 consent decree in which Lowe’s agreed to comply with the RRP Rule after earlier violations. EPA and DOJ officials noted that improved oversight and stronger compliance systems are essential to preventing harmful lead exposures during home renovations.

The agencies said the enforcement action underscores the continued risk of legacy lead paint in U.S. housing and reaffirms the government’s commitment to ensuring companies follow federally mandated lead-safe work practices.