Assbestos

Florida asbestos rules for homeowners

In Florida, a homeowner may remove asbestos from their own home only if they live in it, it isn't for sale or lease, and the work follows the owner-builder rules, including signing the building permit application in person. Otherwise, asbestos removal must be done by a licensed asbestos contractor.

Doing it yourself

Florida's asbestos licensing law exempts:

"Moving, removal, or disposal of asbestos-containing materials on a residential building where the owner occupies the building, the building is not for sale or lease, and the work is performed according to the owner-builder limitations… an owner must personally appear and sign the building permit application."

(Florida Statutes §469.002)

In practice:

  • You must live in the home, and it can't be for sale or lease.
  • You need a building permit as an owner-builder, and you have to sign the application in person.
  • The owner-builder disclosure that counties use says you may not hire an unlicensed person as your contractor. Selling or leasing the home within a year of the work can count against the exemption.
  • The exemption covers moving, removing and disposing of asbestos. It doesn't mention sealing (encapsulating) or covering it.

Outside the exemption, "No person may conduct asbestos abatement work unless licensed" (§469.003).

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Notification

Florida's environmental rules exempt residential buildings with four or fewer units from the asbestos survey and notification requirements, with exceptions for larger projects, condos and mixed-use buildings (Florida DEP). Several counties run their own asbestos programs, including Miami-Dade, Broward, Hillsborough, Orange, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Sarasota and Duval: check with yours.

Hiring a contractor

Florida licenses asbestos contractors and consultants through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Check a license.

Disposal

  • Asbestos waste may be accepted at a permitted Class I or Class III landfill, and the person disposing of it must arrange this with the landfill operator first (Florida Administrative Code 62-701.520).
  • Regulated asbestos waste may not go into a construction-and-demolition debris landfill (62-701.730).

See asbestos disposal.

Sources

This page summarizes the rules; it isn't legal advice. Last reviewed October 29, 2026.