Asbestos Abatement in Pierce County, WA
Pierce County is home base. Our yard is on South M Street in Tacoma, so most Pierce County jobs are a short drive for our crews.
Older buildings in Pierce County
About 42 percent of Pierce County homes were built before 1980, the decades when asbestos went into floor tile, sheet vinyl, ceiling texture, duct wrap and pipe insulation. About one in ten were built before 1940.
The oldest housing concentrates in Tacoma, but postwar neighborhoods across the county carry the same materials, and any of them can turn up during a remodel, a water loss or a demolition.
If a building predates 1980, test before you disturb it. See where asbestos hides in older homes and how our surveys work.
Asbestos rules for Pierce County projects
Pierce County, WA is under the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA), which covers King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties.
Survey
Before a renovation, an AHERA certified building inspector has to survey any material the work will disturb. The one exception is an owner-occupant renovating their own single-family home. Before a demolition, an AHERA survey is required with no exceptions.
Asbestos removal notice
Removing 10 linear feet or more of friable asbestos on pipe, or 48 square feet or more on other materials, requires written notice to PSCAA before work starts. Projects of 260 linear feet or 160 square feet and up also carry a 10-day waiting period after notice.
Demolition notice
Demolishing any structure with a roof area over 120 square feet requires PSCAA notification and a 10-day wait, even when the survey finds no asbestos at all.
Fees
A single-family residence asbestos notification is $25. Current PSCAA fees.
State certification
In Washington, only a certified asbestos contractor can bid or perform abatement. Every job needs a certified supervisor on site and certified workers doing the removal. Projects over 48 square feet or 10 linear feet also get their own L&I notification, normally filed at least 5 days before work starts.
Permits
Building and demolition permits come from the Pierce County Planning & Public Works. This covers unincorporated Pierce County. Cities such as Tacoma issue their own permits.
TAC handles the survey, the PSCAA and L&I notices and the abatement. Questions about your project? Read the FAQ or call us.
The Tacoma Smelter Plume
For about 100 years the Asarco smelter in Ruston put arsenic, lead and other heavy metals into the air. Washington Ecology maps the resulting soil contamination across more than 1,000 square miles, and the worst of it is around Tacoma.
If your project moves soil, check your address on Ecology’s Dirt Alert map first. Ecology also publishes guidance for construction work in contaminated soil.
What we do in Pierce County
- Asbestos Abatement & Encapsulation
- Asbestos & Mold Survey / Inspection
- Lead Remediation & Stabilization
- Mold Remediation
- General & Select Demolition
- Total Loss Inventory
Restoration or mitigation contractor? See how we work with restoration crews.
Cities in Pierce County
Common questions in Pierce County
Do I need an asbestos survey before remodeling or demolishing in Pierce County?
Before a renovation, an AHERA certified building inspector has to survey any material the work will disturb. The one exception is an owner-occupant renovating their own single-family home. Before a demolition, an AHERA survey is required with no exceptions. Pierce County, WA falls under the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.
How long is the waiting period after notifying PSCAA?
Larger asbestos removals (260 linear feet or 160 square feet and up) and every demolition over 120 square feet wait 10 days after notice. Smaller removals need notice before work starts but no waiting period. PSCAA can waive the waiting period for a sudden hazard, to protect equipment or utilities, or when asbestos turns up that the survey missed.
Does Tacoma Abatement Company work in Pierce County?
Yes. Our yard at 3829 S M Street in Tacoma is about 2 road miles from downtown Tacoma. Estimates are free and on site. Abatement projects have an $800 minimum. Call (253) 830-5945, Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 5 PM.