Asbestos Rules by State
Federal rules set the floor, but your state decides who needs an asbestos license, when you must notify the state, and whether homeowners can do their own removal. The rules differ a lot. Some states let homeowners remove asbestos from their own homes. Others require a licensed contractor for any significant amount, even in a house. Use this guide to find your state’s agency and the key rules, then confirm the details with the agency before you start.
- Contractors
- Homeowners
- Inspectors
- All 50 states + D.C.
Check before you start: This is a summary for general guidance, current to the best of our knowledge as of the date at the bottom of the page. State rules, thresholds and fees change, and cities and counties can add their own requirements. Always confirm with the state agency linked below. If you find something out of date, please tell us.
Part of our asbestos deep dive: Asbestos basics · Asbestos laws explained · Licenses & training · For homeowners
The patterns to know
- Most states license or certify asbestos professionals (workers, supervisors, inspectors, designers and contractors) and require EPA-approved training. A few, such as Idaho and Wyoming, don’t have their own licensing program.
- Most states follow the federal NESHAP exclusion for homes and residential buildings with four or fewer units, unless they’re part of a larger project.
- Many states let owner-occupants of single-family homes do their own asbestos work, but some limit what they can do, and a few (such as Virginia) have no general homeowner exemption from licensing.
- Hiring someone changes everything. In most states, anyone you pay to remove asbestos must be licensed, even in a single-family home.
- Disposal rules always apply. Even exempt homeowners must wet, bag, label and dispose of asbestos at an approved landfill.
- Notification to the state, usually 10 working days ahead, is required for demolitions of covered buildings and for larger removals. Some states have lower thresholds or require notice for any licensed project.
State-by-state table
Scroll sideways on a phone to see all columns. “Homes” means single-family homes and residential buildings with four or fewer units unless noted.
| State | Licensing and oversight | Professionals | Homeowners and homes | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Dept. of Environmental Management (ADEM); individual accreditation through the Alabama Safe State Program (University of Alabama) | Accredited workers, supervisors and inspectors; ADEM certifies removal contractors (at least one accredited supervisor required) | Privately owned homes with four or fewer units are exempt unless part of a larger project; state solid waste rules still apply to disposal | ADEM |
| Alaska | Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development (worker certification); EPA Region 10 for NESHAP notifications | Certificate of fitness for anyone performing, supervising or monitoring abatement: 40-hour initial course, 8-hour annual refresher | Federal NESHAP home exclusion applies; confirm homeowner rules with the Department of Labor | Alaska DOLWD |
| Arizona | Dept. of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) for most counties; Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties run their own programs | EPA-accredited training; contractors need a Registrar of Contractors license with the appropriate abatement classification | Owner-occupants generally exempt under NESHAP; anyone hired must be properly licensed; notify for demolitions of covered buildings | ADEQ |
| Arkansas | Division of Environmental Quality (Regulation 21) | State licenses for individuals; contractors licensed with liability insurance | Homes with four or fewer units are outside the regulation’s “facility” definition; owner-occupied single-family homes are not covered | Arkansas DEQ |
| California | Cal/OSHA (contractor registration and consultant certification); Contractors State License Board; local air districts for NESHAP | CSLB license with asbestos certification plus Cal/OSHA registration for work of 100 sq ft or more; Certified Asbestos Consultants and Site Surveillance Technicians | Owner-occupants doing their own work on their primary residence are generally exempt; local air district rules vary, so check yours | Cal/OSHA · CARB |
| Colorado | Dept. of Public Health and Environment (Regulation 8) | State certification for inspectors, supervisors, workers, designers and air monitors; registered abatement contractors | Homeowners working on their own primary residence are exempt; inspections by certified inspectors are required before many renovations, including some single-family projects, unless an owner-occupant opts out | CDPHE |
| Connecticut | Dept. of Public Health | Licensed contractors and consultants; certified supervisors and workers; work over 3 linear or square feet requires a licensed contractor | Owner-occupants of single-family homes may do their own work; notification required for larger projects | CT DPH |
| Delaware | Office of Management and Budget (licensing); DNREC (notification and work practices) | OMB-licensed contractors, inspectors and workers | Owner-occupants of single-family homes are exempt from licensing and notification (landlords and developers are not) but must follow safe removal and disposal rules | DNREC |
| District of Columbia | Dept. of Energy and Environment (permits and notification); Dept. of Licensing and Consumer Protection (worker licenses) | District-licensed workers and supervisors; businesses need a basic business license | Residential buildings with four or fewer units are excluded; surveys required for larger residential and commercial buildings built before 2000 | DOEE |
| Florida | Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation (licensing); Dept. of Environmental Protection and local programs (NESHAP) | Licensed asbestos consultants (surveys) and asbestos contractors (removal) | Owner-occupants of a home not for sale or lease may remove asbestos themselves if they personally sign the building permit application; homes with four or fewer units excluded from NESHAP unless part of a larger project | FL DEP |
| Georgia | Environmental Protection Division | Licensed contractors for removal of more than 10 sq ft or 10 linear ft of friable asbestos, including in homes; accredited individuals | Legal owners may do “owner removal projects”; owners of homes with four or fewer units are exempt from demolition notification unless part of a larger project | GA EPD |
| Hawaii | Dept. of Health, Indoor and Radiological Health Branch | Certification for people and companies working at covered facilities | Single-family homes and residential buildings with four or fewer units are not covered by state asbestos rules unless part of a larger complex | HI DOH |
| Idaho | EPA Region 10 for most buildings; DEQ for major facilities | No state licensing program; EPA-accredited training required | Federal NESHAP home exclusion applies | Idaho DEQ |
| Illinois | Dept. of Public Health (licensing); Illinois EPA (NESHAP notification and fees); Chicago has its own rules | IDPH-licensed contractors and individuals | Homes with four or fewer units exempt from NESHAP unless previously or planned for commercial or public use | IDPH · IL EPA |
| Indiana | Dept. of Environmental Management (IDEM) | State licenses for inspectors, planners, designers, supervisors, workers and contractors | Homes with four or fewer units exempt from NESHAP and state inspection rules; IDEM recommends professionals | IDEM |
| Iowa | Division of Labor (licenses and business permits); Dept. of Natural Resources (NESHAP) | Annual business permit; licensed workers, supervisors and contractors; inspectors and designers for school, public and commercial buildings | Owners may remove asbestos from a single-family home they own and occupy | Iowa Division of Labor |
| Kansas | Dept. of Health and Environment (KDHE) | Licensed businesses; certified workers with annual refreshers | Homeowners working on their own residence are not covered by state or federal rules | KDHE |
| Kentucky | Energy and Environment Cabinet, Division for Air Quality | Certified abatement entities; accredited individuals for school, public and commercial buildings | Removal from single-family homes or apartments of four or fewer units is not regulated | KY EEC |
| Louisiana | Dept. of Environmental Quality (accreditation and NESHAP) | LDEQ accreditation for asbestos professionals; contractor licensing rules also apply | Demolition or renovation of residential buildings with four or fewer units is exempt from state demolition and renovation rules | LDEQ |
| Maine | Dept. of Environmental Protection (Chapter 425) | Licensed companies and certified individuals; work over 3 square or linear feet is an abatement project requiring notification | Owner-occupants of single-family homes may remove exterior asbestos siding themselves; single-family homes are exempt from pre-renovation inspection; hired work requires a licensed contractor | Maine DEP |
| Maryland | Dept. of the Environment (MDE) | Licensed abatement contractors; accredited workers | Homeowners may remove non-friable material; friable material should be removed by a licensed contractor, and thermal insulation must be removed by a licensed contractor before demolition | MDE |
| Massachusetts | Dept. of Labor Standards (licensing); MassDEP (notification and work practices) | DLS-licensed contractors and consultants; certified workers and supervisors; ANF-001 notification 10 working days ahead | Owner-occupants of single-family homes have limited exemptions from notification (mainly non-friable materials); check MassDEP rules before starting | MassDEP |
| Michigan | Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity (MIOSHA asbestos program, licensing); EGLE (NESHAP) | Licensed abatement contractors; accredited individuals; small exception for licensed trades doing incidental work under 160 sq ft or 260 linear ft | Homes with four or fewer units exempt from NESHAP unless part of a larger or public project | EGLE |
| Minnesota | Dept. of Health (MDH) | Only MDH-licensed contractors may disturb more than 10 linear ft, 6 sq ft or 1 cubic ft in homes; certified workers, supervisors and inspectors; notification 5 days ahead | Friable flooring, roofing, siding and ceilings in homes became regulated in 2021; see MDH homeowner guidance before doing your own work | MDH |
| Mississippi | Dept. of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) | MDEQ accreditation and certification | Homes with four or fewer units generally exempt unless part of a larger project; government-ordered demolitions need a certified supervisor | MDEQ |
| Missouri | Dept. of Natural Resources; Kansas City and St. Louis have local programs | State certification for individuals (annual, with a Missouri exam); registered contractors | Most single-family homes are exempt | MO DNR |
| Montana | Dept. of Environmental Quality, Asbestos Control Program | DEQ accreditation through approved training; project permits | Homes with four or fewer units generally exempt; landfills may require proof of an inspection | MT DEQ |
| Nebraska | Dept. of Health and Human Services (licensing); Dept. of Water, Energy and Environment (NESHAP); Lincoln and Omaha local programs | DHHS licenses for individuals and businesses (Title 178) | Homes with four or fewer units exempt from most NESHAP requirements | NE DWEE |
| Nevada | Division of Industrial Relations (Nevada OSHA, asbestos licensing); county air agencies | Licensed contractors, supervisors and workers | State law doesn’t apply licensing to a person controlling asbestos in their own residence | Nevada OSHA |
| New Hampshire | Dept. of Environmental Services | Licensed or certified companies and individuals; inspection required before most renovations and demolitions | Owner-occupants of single-family homes may do their own work if they don’t plan to sell within 6 months, and must wet, package and dispose of waste properly | NH DES |
| New Jersey | Dept. of Labor (contractor licenses and worker permits); Dept. of Health; Dept. of Community Affairs (asbestos subcode) | NJDOL-licensed contractors; worker and supervisor permits; licensed Asbestos Safety Technicians for subcode projects | Homeowners may remove asbestos from their own residence; anyone else must be NJDOL-licensed | NJ DOH |
| New Mexico | Environment Department, Air Quality Bureau; Albuquerque and Bernalillo County run their own program | EPA-accredited training | Homes with four or fewer units not subject to NESHAP notification | NMED |
| New York | Dept. of Labor (Industrial Code Rule 56, licenses); Dept. of Health (training); New York City runs its own program | Asbestos handling license for contractors; certificates for workers, supervisors, inspectors and others; surveys required before most permitted work | Owner-occupied single-family homes are exempt only when the owner personally does the work (not outbuildings, not hired help) | NYS DOL |
| North Carolina | Dept. of Health and Human Services, Health Hazards Control Unit; Mecklenburg, Forsyth and Buncombe counties handle NESHAP locally | State accreditation; removal permits above NESHAP amounts | Homeowners working on their own residence don’t need accreditation and are exempt from permit fees | NC HHCU |
| North Dakota | Dept. of Environmental Quality | State certification; certified inspector required before regulated demolition or renovation | Owners may repair or remove asbestos in single-family homes they own and occupy; homes exempt unless part of a larger project | ND DEQ |
| Ohio | Dept. of Health (licensing); Ohio EPA and local air agencies (notification) | ODH licenses contractors and certifies workers, supervisors, inspectors and designers for projects over 50 linear or square feet of friable asbestos | Some notification rules can reach residential projects; check with ODH and Ohio EPA before doing your own work | ODH |
| Oklahoma | Dept. of Labor (licensing); Dept. of Environmental Quality (NESHAP) | Licensed contractors for friable asbestos abatement; licensed individuals | Private homes and apartment houses with fewer than six units are outside the contractor licensing definition | OK DOL |
| Oregon | Dept. of Environmental Quality | DEQ-licensed contractors; certified workers and supervisors; accredited inspectors | Survey required before demolition or renovation of homes built before 2004, except owner-occupants doing their own interior renovation; owner-occupants may do their own abatement in limited cases | OR DEQ |
| Pennsylvania | Dept. of Labor and Industry (certification); Dept. of Environmental Protection (NESHAP); Philadelphia and Allegheny County have their own programs | Certified contractors, inspectors, planners, designers, supervisors and workers | Homes exempt from EPA and DEP rules; L&I notification can apply to hired removal of friable asbestos in homes | PA L&I · PA DEP |
| Rhode Island | Dept. of Health (licensing); Dept. of Environmental Management (disposal) | Licensed contractors and individuals; approved abatement plans | One- and two-family homes are generally exempt; homeowners may do their own work | RIDOH |
| South Carolina | Dept. of Environmental Services | State licenses for individuals and projects | Homes with four or fewer units may be exempt, unless the work is done by a licensed abatement contractor or is part of a commercial project | SC DES |
| South Dakota | Dept. of Agriculture and Natural Resources | State certification cards for inspectors, planners, designers, contractor/supervisors and workers | Homes with four or fewer units exempt unless part of a larger project | SD DANR |
| Tennessee | Dept. of Environment and Conservation (accreditation and NESHAP); Knox, Shelby, Hamilton and Davidson counties have local air programs | State accreditation for individuals and firms working in schools and public and commercial buildings | Detached single-family homes are outside the “public and commercial building” definition; disposal rules still apply | TDEC |
| Texas | Dept. of State Health Services (DSHS) | State licenses for individuals and companies working in public buildings (a broad category that includes most buildings open to the public) | Private residences and apartment buildings with four or fewer units are excluded | DSHS |
| Utah | Dept. of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality | State certification for individuals and companies; contractors for hire must inspect homes before renovation or demolition | Owners working on their own residence where they live are exempt | UT DEQ |
| Vermont | Dept. of Health, Asbestos and Lead Regulatory Program | Licenses required to disturb asbestos in any facility: workers, supervisors, inspectors, contractors | Homeowners doing their own abatement are exempt from permit fees and may collect their own samples | VT Health |
| Virginia | Dept. of Professional and Occupational Regulation (licensing); Dept. of Labor and Industry (notification) | Licensed contractors, supervisors, workers, inspectors and others; trained workers may do roofing, flooring and siding work without a license | Residential projects are exempt from state notification and fees, but the licensing law has no general homeowner exemption; check with DPOR | DPOR |
| Washington | Dept. of Labor and Industries (certification); local clean air agencies (notification) | Certified workers, supervisors and contractors; good faith inspection by an accredited inspector before most projects | Owner-occupants remodeling their own home are exempt from the good faith inspection requirement; local clean air agencies may require surveys and notification for home demolitions | WA L&I |
| West Virginia | Bureau for Public Health (licensing); Dept. of Environmental Protection, Division of Air Quality (NESHAP) | Licensed contractors, inspectors, supervisors and workers; resilient floor removal in single-family homes has its own training rules | Confirm homeowner rules with the Bureau for Public Health | WV DEP |
| Wisconsin | Dept. of Health Services (certification); Dept. of Natural Resources (NESHAP) | Certified companies, workers and supervisors; DHS notification for smaller projects, DNR for larger ones | Exemption for homeowners working in their own owner-occupied single-family home | WI DHS |
| Wyoming | Dept. of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division | No state licensing or registration; training required under federal rules; 10-day notification before removal | Homeowners aren’t required to inspect private homes unless converting them to public or commercial use | WY DEQ |
Territories
- Puerto Rico: Department of Natural and Environmental Resources handles asbestos.
- U.S. Virgin Islands: Department of Planning and Natural Resources handles AHERA and NESHAP.
- Guam and other territories: contact EPA’s regional office.
Contact details for every state and territory are on EPA’s State Asbestos Contacts page.
Questions to ask your state agency
- Do I need an inspection before my renovation or demolition, even for a house?
- Does my project need written notification, how far ahead, and is there a fee?
- What licenses do the company and workers need?
- Can I do the work myself as a homeowner? On which materials?
- Where can asbestos waste be disposed of, and how must it be packaged?
- Does my city or county have its own rules or permits?
Standards & references
Related: Asbestos · Asbestos Laws Explained · Asbestos Licenses & Training · Asbestos for Homeowners · State Plan Directory
Last updated: