Houses in San Lorenzo from before 1978 get a certified inspection first through Hayward Lead Paint Removal. Its findings decide whether paint comes off, gets sealed or is worked around under lead-safe rules, and the work can include testing, abatement, removal and encapsulation.
San Lorenzo is an unincorporated census-designated place in Alameda County. In the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 86.5% of its 8,816 homes predate 1980, 72.9% predate 1960 and 30.8% predate 1950. The 1950s added 3,709 homes and the 1940s 2,203, which makes 67.1% of the stock from 1940 through 1959, and 83.9% is single-family.
Lead-painted plaster walls and sill sealed in a 1940s room
Example project
Home
1940s house in San Lorenzo with plaster walls
Original request
Hold the old paint in the back room until a remodel a few years from now
Testing
Lead paint on the plaster walls, the window sill and the apron; the wall paint is sound, the sill paint is cracked
Surfaces
About 280 sq ft: walls, sill, apron and baseboard
Method
Two coats of a coating made for a few years, so an interim control, not abatement
Estimated cost
$2,100
In this example, the owners of a 1940s house in San Lorenzo plan to remodel in a few years and want the back room safe until then. A test shows lead paint on the plaster walls, the sill and the apron. The paint on the walls is still firmly attached, while the paint on the sill is cracked and flaking.
Wood siding or stucco, wood eaves and fascia, and window trim repainted for decades may all be present on a San Lorenzo house from the 1940s or 1950s. Test what a project will touch before anyone sands or scrapes. Exterior lead paint removal lays out the methods.
Windows and doors
Windows from those decades open and close against paint. In a pre-1978 home, replacing them is EPA renovation work whatever the size, and keeping the original sashes is another route. Lead paint window and door removal weighs the two.
Remodels and repainting
A kitchen update, or a repaint with heavy scraping, disturbs old coats whether or not removal is the aim. The EPA rule for paid work is explained under lead-safe renovation and remodeling.
Inspection and testing
San Lorenzo owners looking for an inspection or risk assessment need an Inspector/Assessor on CDPH’s certified lists; a Project Monitor can only sign off clearance. For what the report says and how a buyer’s 10-day window works, see lead paint inspection and testing.
Encapsulation and rentals
Sound paint on a plaster wall may be sealed or covered instead of stripped, as lead paint encapsulation explains. Renters occupy 32.8% of San Lorenzo homes, and owners of pre-1978 units have disclosure duties set out under rental property lead paint work.
Alameda County is the local authority
San Lorenzo is unincorporated, so its local government is Alameda County and not a city council. Ask Alameda County Planning and Building what permits apply before work is scheduled.
The county also runs the Healthy Homes Department, which advises on testing and on hiring lead-safe contractors, lists local firms certified under the EPA renovation rule and operates a lead hazard repair grant program. Ask the department whether your home qualifies; nothing here promises funding.
The year of construction comes first, since 3,709 San Lorenzo homes date from the 1950s and a later addition does not change the age of the original walls. Test the paint the project will touch, then pick removal, sealing or lead-safe renovation from the results.
Permanent abatement means the contractor files CDPH Form 8551 at least five days ahead and posts it, neighbors in adjacent dwellings are told in writing, and clearance closes the job. Keep the Form 8552 report with your house file.
Does the City of Hayward issue permits in San Lorenzo?
San Lorenzo is unincorporated, so it is not part of the City of Hayward. Ask Alameda County Planning and Building what permits apply.
Does lead paint law reach a 1950s San Lorenzo house?
Yes. A pre-1978 building is under the federal disclosure and renovation rules, and Title 17 governs lead work on any building. A test shows which surfaces hold lead.
Who certifies lead inspectors in California?
CDPH, which posts lists of certified people. Renovation firms are certified by the EPA, because California has not taken over that program.
Can sealing replace stripping on an older wall?
At times, if the paint is intact and bonded and the surface neither rubs nor stays wet. A seal designed for 20 years or more is abatement under Title 17; a shorter one is an interim control.
What should a San Lorenzo seller expect on lead?
Hand the buyer the EPA pamphlet and any known lead reports when selling a pre-1978 house, and the buyer then has 10 days to test. CDPH says the test in California is done by a certified Inspector/Assessor.
Just north, San Leandro is an older city with more apartment buildings and its own page.
Request a free lead paint removal quote
Where is the house, when was it built, and does the owner live in it or rent it out? Name the surfaces that need attention. We'll get back to you soon with an estimate or any questions we have. Estimates are free and there's no obligation.
