Lead service line disclosure laws by state
Checked November 2, 2026
Do I have to disclose a lead service line when I sell my house?
In Iowa and Rhode Island, yes: state law requires sellers to disclose lead service lines. In Illinois and Wisconsin the disclosure forms ask about lead problems more generally. Elsewhere there is no service-line-specific rule we found, but most states require sellers to disclose known material defects, and utility inventories now make lead line status public.
| State | Applies to | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | Sale | Sellers must disclose lead service lines (since Jan. 1, 2026). |
| Rhode Island | Sale and rental | Sellers must disclose lead service lines; buyers get 10 days to inspect. |
| New Jersey | Rental | Landlords must pass utility notices to tenants; a lease disclosure statement is phasing in. |
| Illinois | Sale (general lead question) | The state disclosure report asks about unsafe lead conditions, including lead pipes. |
| Wisconsin | Sale (general lead question) | The real estate condition report asks about lead-related water quality problems. |
Iowa
Since January 1, 2026, sellers of residential property must disclose whether the home has a lead service line on the state seller disclosure statement, answering yes, no or unknown. The law (House File 876, 2025) requires disclosure, not replacement. Your water utility's inventory notice tells you which answer applies.
Sources: Iowa REALTORS: disclosure begins January 1, Iowa HF 876
Rhode Island
Under the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, an owner who transfers a property must disclose the presence of lead service lines, and the buyer gets ten days, unless the parties agree otherwise, to have the service line inspected for lead. Water suppliers must notify owners and tenants within 30 days of identifying a lead line and must inspect and replace private-side lead lines at no cost to the owner.
Sources: R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-24.6-28, RI REALTORS: 2023 lead law timeline
New Jersey
Since 2021, water systems must send certified-mail notices to owners, including off-site landlords, within 30 days of learning a property has a lead service line, and landlords must pass the notice to tenants. A 2025 law (P.L. 2025, c. 144, signed September 19, 2025) adds a "Lead in Drinking Water Disclosure" that landlords must give tenants before a new lease or renewal once the state publishes its notice and model statement, and bars landlords from blocking replacement. We found no enacted New Jersey law that adds a lead service line question to the seller disclosure for home sales.
Sources: P.L. 2025, c. 144, NJ DCA model lead disclosure statement, NJDEP: lead service line law Q&A
Illinois
The Illinois Residential Real Property Disclosure Report includes a question about known unsafe conditions involving lead, which covers lead pipes. It is not a service-line-specific question, but most Illinois utilities have now mailed lead line notices, so a seller who received one generally knows the answer. Check the current form with your agent or attorney.
Sources: Residential Real Property Disclosure Act (765 ILCS 77)
Wisconsin
Wisconsin's mandatory real estate condition report asks sellers whether they are aware of water quality issues caused by unsafe concentrations of, or unsafe conditions relating to, lead, and a "yes" must be explained. It does not ask about the service line material directly.
Sources: Wis. Stat. § 709.03
Every other state
We found no other state law that specifically requires disclosing a lead service line at sale or to tenants. General seller disclosure laws still apply: if you know the service line is lead, for example because your utility mailed you a notice, many state forms and courts treat that as a known defect. Because utility inventories are public, buyers can usually look up the address anyway.
What buyers and sellers should do
- Sellers: look up your address on the utility's inventory and keep any notice letter. If the line is lead, check whether your utility replaces it for free before you list.
- Buyers: check the inventory, look at the pipe at the meter during the inspection, and ask for a credit if you will have to pay. See selling or buying a house with a lead line.
- Tenants: see renters and lead pipes.
This page summarizes laws for general information and is not legal advice. Disclosure rules change and forms differ; confirm with a real estate attorney or your agent.
Common questions
Do I have to disclose a lead service line when I sell my house?
In Iowa and Rhode Island, yes: state law requires sellers to disclose lead service lines. In Illinois and Wisconsin the disclosure forms ask about lead problems more generally. Elsewhere there is no service-line-specific rule we found, but most states require sellers to disclose known material defects, and utility inventories now make lead line status public.
Does the federal lead disclosure cover pipes?
No. The federal lead-based paint disclosure for homes built before 1978 covers paint only, not water service lines.
Do landlords have to tell tenants about lead pipes?
In New Jersey and Rhode Island, tenants must be told, either by the utility, the landlord or both. Federal rules also require utilities to notify every customer served by a lead, galvanized or unknown line each year, and many utilities send notices to the address itself so tenants receive them.