Asbestos by State

State rules

Alabama

Alabama runs asbestos demolition and renovation through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management Air Division, with two local exceptions. ADEM’s asbestos certification and demolition page tells a responsible party to file a 10-day notice before disturbing regulated asbestos-containing material or starting demolition. Jefferson County’s health department and the City of Huntsville Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management issue their own demolition and renovation permits. ADEM handles the rest of the state and certifies asbestos abatement contractors. EPA’s contact list names separate NESHAP and AHERA people, and Alabama is not one of the twelve states EPA says hold an AHERA waiver.

Checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.

Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
Who runs the asbestos program
Alabama Department of Environmental Management, Air Division
Who must be licensed or accredited
ADEM certifies asbestos abatement contractors. Jefferson County and the City of Huntsville run separate local demolition and renovation permit programs.
Official program page
Official page →

ADEM says a notice is required in three situations: a renovation that will remove at least 260 linear feet, 160 square feet, or 35 cubic feet of regulated asbestos-containing material; any demolition, whether or not asbestos-containing material is present; and a residential structure that will be burned for fire training, which also needs departmental approval. The page defines regulated material as any material with greater than 1 percent asbestos by weight, including friable and nonfriable forms. Friable means the material can be crushed to powder. Notices and contractor certifications move through ADEM’s Alabama Environmental Permitting and Compliance System.

Regulated structures must be surveyed by an Alabama accredited asbestos inspector before renovation, demolition, or burning for training. Friable asbestos and Category II nonfriable material must come out before demolition. Category I nonfriable material can usually stay in place during demolition if nothing will be recycled. Friable waste is special waste no matter the amount. Nonfriable waste can often go as general or construction waste, but ADEM says to check the landfill or hauler first. Removed Category II nonfriable material must be disposed of separately. Regulated asbestos-containing material must be removed by an ADEM certified asbestos abatement contractor.

Privately owned residential buildings of four or fewer units that remain residential property are exempt from the asbestos rules on this page, but they still must follow Alabama solid waste rules. ADEM warns that the residential exemption can put homeowners at risk. All asbestos-containing material must be removed before a structure is burned for training. Questions for areas outside Jefferson County and Huntsville go to asbestosmail@adem.alabama.gov, with general questions at 334-271-7879 and AEPACS questions at 334-271-7897. School asbestos questions are a separate EPA-listed AHERA contact, not the demolition desk.

Official resources in Alabama

ADEM asbestos certification and demolition

Statewide 10-day notice rules, inspector survey requirement, and contractor certification.

AEPACS instructions for asbestos contractors

How contractors file Form 496 notices and Form 497 certifications online.

EPA state asbestos contacts

Alabama NESHAP and AHERA contact names published by EPA.

EPA asbestos NESHAP overview

Federal demolition and renovation standard that ADEM implements.

Key facts for Alabama

What to do next

  1. Confirm whether the job is in Jefferson County, Huntsville, or the rest of Alabama before you file a notice.
  2. Ask for the inspector’s Alabama accreditation before a renovation or demolition survey.
  3. Ask the contractor for a current ADEM asbestos abatement contractor certification.
  4. Use asbestosmail@adem.alabama.gov or 334-271-7879 for areas outside the two local programs.

Looking for your city or county in Alabama?

We haven't found official program-level pages for Alabama we can verify yet, so we don't show local numbers here rather than guess. Here's what to use instead, in order:

  1. General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Alabama, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
  2. Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.
    Alabama Department of Environmental Management
    Website →
    Phone: (334) 271-7879 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)
    Your city or county office: Alabama local governments →
    Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Alabama page on USA.gov can point you to the right office.
  3. Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.

Helpful guides

Asbestos rules planner →

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