Asbestos SurveysThe Survey Every Demolition Needs First
Guide
Asbestos Surveys
This is the requirement that surprises the most people: before a structure comes down in Florida, someone licensed has to check it for asbestos — and that applies to newer buildings too.
The rule, plainly
Federal asbestos NESHAP regulations, administered in Florida through the Department of Environmental Protection and local air programs, require a thorough inspection for asbestos-containing material before demolition. This is not limited to old buildings — asbestos was used in some building products after the well-known cutoffs, so the survey requirement applies to most structures regardless of age. Houses built before the early 1980s are where surveys most often find something, which is why pre-1981 construction gets the most attention, but the inspection itself is not optional for newer buildings.
On top of the survey, NESHAP requires a written notification to the state at least 10 working days before demolition begins — for demolitions generally, whether or not asbestos was found. Ten working days is two full calendar weeks, and it is a hard clock: the job cannot legally start early because the machine happened to be free.
Who does the survey and what it costs
The survey is performed by a licensed asbestos consultant or accredited inspector — an independent professional, not the demolition contractor. They walk the structure, sample suspect materials, send the samples to an accredited lab, and issue a written report identifying any asbestos-containing material and its condition.
The price is driven by how many suspect materials need sampling and lab analysis, so for a typical single-family house the survey is one of the smallest line items in the whole demolition budget — and the report usually comes back within a few days of the site visit. Larger or more complex commercial buildings cost more because there are more materials to sample.
- The usual suspects in Florida houses: floor tile and mastic, popcorn and textured ceilings, drywall joint compound, duct wrap, roofing materials, and cement siding
- The report is a permit prerequisite in Tampa Bay jurisdictions — the building department wants it with the application
- Keep the report; it follows the property and the disposal paperwork
What happens if the survey finds asbestos
Finding asbestos does not stop the project; it adds a step. Regulated asbestos-containing material that would be disturbed by demolition has to be removed first by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor — again a separate specialty, not the demolition crew — and disposed of at a facility permitted to take it.
Abatement cost depends entirely on quantity and material. Removing a mastic floor in one room is a minor line item; a house full of tile, ceiling texture and duct wrap is a major one, and large commercial abatement projects go far beyond that. This is the single largest surprise cost in demolition, which is exactly why the survey happens before you sign anything final.
Once abatement is complete and cleared, demolition proceeds normally. The debris from a properly abated structure is ordinary C&D material.
How it fits the schedule
The survey is the first thing to order, because everything else queues behind it: the report feeds the permit application, an abatement (if needed) has to finish before demolition, and the 10-working-day notification clock has to run out. Ordered on day one, the survey adds little or nothing to the overall timeline. Ordered after the permit is filed and bounced back, it adds weeks.
We arrange the survey through licensed consultants we work with regularly, file the NESHAP notification, and sequence any abatement before our crews arrive. It is a standard part of every demolition we run, not an add-on.
Questions
Common questions
Is an asbestos survey required before demolition in Florida?
Yes. NESHAP requires an inspection for asbestos-containing material before demolition of most structures, and Tampa Bay building departments want the survey report with the permit application.
How much does an asbestos survey cost?
For a single-family house it is one of the smallest line items in a demolition budget — the price tracks how many suspect materials need sampling and lab analysis, and the report is back within a few days. Commercial buildings cost more because more materials get sampled.
What is the 10-day asbestos notification?
NESHAP requires written notice to the state at least 10 working days before demolition begins — roughly two calendar weeks. It applies to demolitions generally, and the job cannot start before the clock runs out.
My house was built in 1995 — do I still need a survey?
In practice, yes. The inspection requirement is not limited by building age, and inspectors do occasionally find asbestos-containing products in post-1980s construction.
Who removes asbestos if the survey finds it?
A licensed asbestos abatement contractor — a separate specialty from demolition. Abatement finishes and clears before the demolition crew starts.