Breathing airborne asbestos fibers can cause serious health effects, including asbestosis, mesothelioma, and contribute to lung cancer. Asbestos is found in many building materials, especially in structures built before 1980. While asbestos-containing material was banned in the 1980s, a court threw out the federal policy enforcing the ban within years, and some asbestos-containing products remain legally in use.
The District’s asbestos program lays out the steps all building owners must take before renovation or demolition projects begin on non-exempt structures. Exemptions are only provided for:
- a single residential building of four units or less, not used commercially, institutionally or industrially, and not part of a larger demolition or renovation project, and
- renovations where the total amount of material disturbed is less than 160 square feet, less than 260 linear feet (for pipes) or less than 35 cubic feet.
Here are the steps to staying compliant with the District’s asbestos Rule 9.9.
1. Questionnaire
When applying for a building permit with your local jurisdiction, you must first complete an Air District Questionnaire, provided by the building department. The building department will forward the completed Questionnaire to the air district.
District staff will review your questionnaire to determine if the proposed project is regulated or exempt. The District will then notify the applicant and the local jurisdiction if the project is exempt, or if the project is regulated and additional requirements apply.
2. Survey
If a project is not exempt, before any work begins the building owner or operator must have a thorough asbestos survey performed on the project site. This survey must be completed by a Certified Asbestos Consultant (CAC) or Certified Site Surveillance Technician (CSST) licensed by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) and who has taken an EPA-approved Building Inspector course.
- Read the Asbestos Advisory and List of Local Testing Companies
- Find a licensed CAC/CSST
- See our June 2015 advisory on asbestos survey requirements
If there is asbestos present (more than 0.1% and 100 square feet or more), contractors and employers that remove asbestos must be registered with Cal/OSHA, through the Asbestos Contractors’ Registration Unit (ACRU) .
Applicable survey review fees are due upon submittal of the survey to the District. To ensure prompt review of your survey once complete, please remit appropriate fees along with the survey report. Survey review can be found in the District fee schedule.
3. Permit
For all demolitions and any renovations that will disturb RACM of at least 160 square feet, 260 linear feet (on pipe) or 35 cubic feet, you must submit a District Asbestos Demolition/Renovation Notification Form along with a copy of the survey and the proper fees to the District. (These fees are also listed on the District fee schedule.)
We also have instructions for the District form available.
Submittal Options
Survey reports and notification forms can be dropped off in person (Monday through Friday, 8-5), mailed (Yolo-Solano AQMD; 1947 Galileo Court, Suite 103; Davis, CA 95618) or emailed. Fees can be paid in person (check or credit card), by mail (check only) or online using the District’s payment system. There are processing fees to pay by credit card online or in person.
Notification Period
There is a mandatory 10 working day notification period that begins once the survey report (Step 2), notification form (Step 3) and all required fees are submitted to the District.
Enforcement
Property owners and any person who controls, supervises or performs demolition or renovation activities out of compliance can be directly liable for penalties up to $75,000 per day.
