Assbestos

Pennsylvania asbestos rules for homeowners

Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection doesn't regulate asbestos removal from private homes (apartments of five or more units excepted), and Allegheny County exempts homeowners. Philadelphia is different: its code requires anyone doing asbestos abatement to be trained and certified, with no homeowner exemption.

Doing it yourself

  • State environmental rules: "DEP does not regulate the removal of ACM from private residences unless the residence is an apartment with five or more units. Contact your township or borough to find out if there are any local regulations" (PA DEP).
  • State certification law: Pennsylvania's Asbestos Occupations Accreditation and Certification Act requires certification for asbestos occupations, with no explicit homeowner exemption. DEP's guidance says the Labor & Industry five-day notice applies to private homes when friable asbestos "is removed by someone other than the homeowner."
  • Allegheny County (Pittsburgh): work on a private home of four or fewer units is exempt from the county's asbestos regulations, unless it's part of a larger project. "Dust control measures and other Article XXI regulations still apply" (Allegheny County Health Department).
  • Philadelphia: the city code says no person shall directly perform or supervise asbestos abatement unless trained and certified, and we found no owner exemption (Philadelphia Code §6-604). Check with the city's Air Management Services before starting.
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Hiring a contractor

Pennsylvania certifies asbestos contractors, inspectors, supervisors and workers through the Department of Labor & Industry. Projects removing more than 3 square or 3 linear feet of friable asbestos need at least five days' notice to L&I (PA L&I).

Disposal

  • DEP says all Pennsylvania municipal waste landfills can accept non-friable asbestos.
  • Friable asbestos waste (more than 1% asbestos) is "special handling waste" and can go only to landfills approved to take it (25 Pa. Code §271.1).

Call the landfill first. See asbestos disposal.

Sources

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