New York asbestos rules for homeowners
New York's asbestos rules don't apply to an owner-occupied single-family home where the owner does the work themselves. Anyone you hire must be a licensed asbestos contractor with certified workers. New York City has its own, separate rules.
Doing it yourself
New York's asbestos rule (Industrial Code Rule 56) says it "shall not apply to… owner-occupied single family dwellings, where the owner performs the work." The state Labor Department's homeowner FAQ explains the limits (NY DOL P229):
- The home must be a single-family home that the owner lives in or will live in.
- The work must be performed solely by the homeowner. Friends, relatives or hired help don't qualify.
- A home slated for demolition isn't "occupied," and people buying homes to renovate and resell don't qualify.
- The Labor Department "recommends that asbestos-containing materials be removed by licensed asbestos contractors."
Surveys before renovation
Rule 56 generally requires an asbestos survey before renovation or demolition, but the Labor Department says the rule doesn't apply to an owner doing their own work under the exemption. Buildings whose construction began on or after January 1, 1974 are exempt from the survey requirement (NY DOL).
Hiring a contractor
If you hire anyone, they must hold a New York State Department of Labor asbestos license and use certified workers. There's no minimum amount of material. See the Asbestos Control Bureau.
New York City
In NYC, the Department of Environmental Protection regulates asbestos in private buildings, and we didn't find a homeowner exemption in its rules. Check with NYC DEP before starting any work.
Disposal
Disposal is regulated by the Department of Environmental Conservation. Under its rules, non-friable asbestos waste may go to a landfill if it isn't broken up, crushed or processed. Call the landfill first. See asbestos disposal.
New York's Labor Department also lists materials assumed to contain asbestos until tested: white heating-pipe wrap, 9-inch by 9-inch floor tiles, transite (cement) siding and vermiculite attic insulation. It adds that "the only certain way to determine the asbestos content of materials is by sampling and analysis."
Sources
- NY DOL: Asbestos abatement homeowner exemption (P229) (PDF, January 2026)
- NY DOL: Asbestos Control Bureau and survey requirements
- NY Labor Law §901; 12 NYCRR Part 56; 6 NYCRR 363-7.1
This page summarizes the rules; it isn't legal advice. Last reviewed October 29, 2026.