Fayette County’s Building Permits & Inspections Department has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division to address the hazards of lead-based paint in old buildings.

On Tuesday, the Board of Commissioners approved a two-year pilot program that will focus on educating the public, builders and contractors who demolish or renovate structures that still contain traces of lead paint, which was banned in 1978. County staff explained that exposure to paint dust or contaminated soil can result in serious health problems, especially in children.