Portland instituted its first crackdown on lead paint and asbestos emissions from home demolitions Thursday.

The city council voted unanimously to require developers who plan to tear down homes to more thoroughly search for lead paint and asbestos, to notify nearby neighbors and to undergo at least two city inspections to ensure the company follows its own toxics containment plan.

The new rules, which are effective immediately under an emergency clause but might not be implemented until July 1, follow guidelines set by the state.

A pair of Portland lawmakers, Sen. Michael Dembrow and Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer, sponsored a bill in the 2017 legislative session that gave cities more power to regulate lead in demolitions and significantly expanded their authority to regulate asbestos. Both materials are common in homes built before the 1980s.

A 2015 investigation by the Oregonian/OregonLive found that only about a third of Portland homes built during that era had asbestos removed before a demolition. The state's standards to handle asbestos were the weakest in the country.

The newspaper's investigation estimated that in 2012 and 2012 alone, 200 homes in Portland gave off hazardous asbestos fibers when they were demolished so bigger homes or apartments could be built in their place. Lead paint is even more ubiquitous in older homes.

Breathing airborne asbestos fibers can cause cancer. Breathing lead particles can lead to brain damage.

Dembrow and Keny-Guyer attended Thursday's council meeting to applaud the city's new rules.

"I see a real model for the rest of the state," Dembrow said. "If the city of Portland can do this right, I can certainly see other cities taking this up and taking this on because their residents are equally concerned."

Portland's Bureau of Development Services will oversee the new program. All buildings that house one to four families and are at least 200 square feet -- including accessory dwelling units -- will be under the new rules.

With the rule in place, anyone who wants to demolish a home or duplex must provide an asbestos survey to the city before a permit is issued. The council raised the cost of those permits by $180 to help pay for two new city inspectors who will be required to visit a demolition site before, during and after the house is torn down.

Nancy Thorington, code and policy analyst for the bureau, estimated that at least 700 demolitions each year will fall under the new rules.

The inspectors will make sure demolition companies create a plan that accounts for dust control, that they remove all painted parts on the exterior of a building beforehand and that they wet down all materials that might have lead or asbestos to keep dust contained.

Studies suggest that people within 300 feet of a demolition could experience noticeably higher levels of lead dust, so anyone living in that zone must be notified in advance with a sign on their door.

"This ordinance is very important so other kids don't get sick and get developmentally disabled," said 11-year-old Ramona Runkel during public testimony, who had elevated lead levels in her blood as 8-month-old until her parents treated their house for it.

-- Molly Harbarger

mharbarger@oregonian.com

503-294-5923

@MollyHarbarger