Meth Lab Cleanup Regulations

Learn more about the specific State by State regulations for drug lab cleanups, and how Spaulding Decon can help with the proper disinfection and decontamination of drug labs.

Drug Lab Cleanup: Legal Disclosures and Regulations

Locate specific information by State: Methamphetamine Lab Cleanup Regulations

Regulatory Details by State:

Alabama

Standard

No Standard

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Contractor and Property Owners

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Alaska

Standard

"fit-for-use" standard based on sampling

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Contractors and property owners with prior OSHA-approved HAZMAT training

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Arizona

Standard

0.1 ug/100 cm2

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

A registered firm

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Arkansas

Standard

0.1 ug/100 cm2

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Contractors (not certified by the DOH)

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

California

Standard

1.5 mg/100cm2

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Contractors

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Colorado

Standard

0.5 ug/100 cm2

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Contractors or Industrial Hygienists (not contracted or regulated by the DOH)

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab; John Martyny has evidence of sufficient contamination from smoking methamphetamine

Connecticut

Standard

0.1 ug/100 cm2

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Property Owners; Contractors (trained and equipped to conduct clenaup); Certified Industrial Hygienists with oversight of local health and building inspection authorities

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Delaware

Standard

No Standard

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

No Standard

Who pays for the cleanup?

No Standard

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

No Standard

Florida

Standard

No standard regulations for secondary cleanup

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Licensed Contractor (licensed by health dept); Property Owner

Who pays for the cleanup?

No Standard

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Georgia

Standard

No standard; Property Owners have no legal responsibility to conduct additional cleanup

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Contractors (CDL certified); Property Owners

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Hawaii

Standard

0.1 ug/100 cm2

Special Cleanup Procedures

An environmental consultant should be hired

Who performs the cleanup?

HEER Office notifies property owner and initiates the cleanup process, however sole responsibility of property owner; Qualified Environmental Professional

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Idaho

Standard

0.1 ug/100 cm2

Special Cleanup Procedures

Clearance sampling must be done by an Industrial Hygienist

Who performs the cleanup?

Contractors; Property Owners

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Illinois

Standard

No standard, just a practical approach based on cleanup and disposal

Special Cleanup Procedures

Does not recommend routine sampling

Who performs the cleanup?

Contractors; Property Owners

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner; also legally responsible if persons get sick after entering a contaminated building

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Indiana

Standard

1.5 mg/100cm2

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Contractors

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Iowa

Standard

No standard; no tracking method or general listing of homes that were used as clan labs

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Environmental companies trained in hazardous substance removal and cleanup; Property Owner

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Kansas

Standard

No Standard

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Environmental Companies; Property Owner

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Kentucky

Standard

0.1 ug/100 cm2, unless the cabinet promulgates and administrative regulation providing for a different standard

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Contractors certified by the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC)

Who pays for the cleanup?

Meth Producers are civilly liable for cleanup costs; Property Owners

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Louisiana

Standard

No Standard; No Disclosure Laws

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

No CDL regulations; Property Owner

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Maine

Standard

No Standard

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Contractor and Property Owners

Who pays for the cleanup?

"Lab Cleanup is beyond the financial capabilities of Maine cities and towns"

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Maryland

Standard

No standard; local health districts have no legal mandate to address meth labs

Special Cleanup Procedures

If meth lab is found, local law enforcements may secure the scene, but then the DEA is contacted for any further action.

Who performs the cleanup?

Private Contractor (hired by DEA)

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner or DEA depending on what's being cleaned.

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Massachusetts

Standard

No Standard

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

No Standard

Who pays for the cleanup?

No Standard

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

No Standard

Michigan

Standard

Kalamazoo, MI and other cities have regulations. 1.5 mg/100cm2

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Contractors (not licensed or regulated by the DOH)

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Minnesota

Standard

Relies on a remediation standard rather than achievement of a number that is not science-based

Special Cleanup Procedures

No residual risk (get rid of everything), minimum residual risk, acceptable residual risk

Who performs the cleanup?

Contractors (not licensed or regulated by the DOH)

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner; meth "cooks" can pay restitution; Revolving Cleanup Loan Fund (lent to counties and cities)

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Mississippi

Standard

No Standard; No Disclosure Laws

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

No Standard

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Missouri

Standard

No Standard

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Environmental companies trained in hazardous substance removal and cleanup; Property Owner

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Montana

Standard

0.1 ug/100cm2; standard can be changed by the Department of Environmental Quality

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Certified Contractors

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Nebraska

Standard

No Standard

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

No Standard

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Nevada

Standard

No Standard

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Certified Contractors

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

No Standard

New Hampshire

Standard

No Standard; State Disclosure Laws in place

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

No Standard

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

New Jersey

Standard

No Standard

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

No Standard

Who pays for the cleanup?

No Standard

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

No Standard

New Mexico

Standard

1 ug/ft2

Special Cleanup Procedures

Department advises that the firm doing the preliminary evaluation be different than the one doing the cleanup

Who performs the cleanup?

A remediation firm

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

New York

Standard

No Standard

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

No Standard

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

North Carolina

Standard

0.1 ug/100 cm2

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Responsible Party; Property Owner; Decon Specialist

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

North Dakota

Standard

No standard; if buying a house, a property owner has to disclose if the house was used as a meth lab

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

No standard

Who pays for the cleanup?

No standard

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

No standard

Ohio

Standard

No standard; local health districts have no legal mandate to address meth labs

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Contractors (not licensed or regulated by the DOH)

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Oklahoma

Standard

No standard; if buying a house, a property owner has to disclose if the house was used as a meth lab, if just renting a property, owner does not have to disclose

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Contractors; Property Owners

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Oregon

Standard

0.5 ug/ft2

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Licensed Contractor; Property Owner; Property Owner's Agent

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owners; City or county fund; Department of Environmental Quality assists when the environment has been contaminated

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Pennsylvania

Standard

No Standard

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

No Standard

Who pays for the cleanup?

No Standard

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

No Standard

Rhode Island

Standard

No Standard

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

No Standard

Who pays for the cleanup?

No Standard

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

No Standard

South Carolina

Standard

No Standard

Special Cleanup Procedures

Companies hired by the DEA focus on "gross decon"

Who performs the cleanup?

No Standard

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

South Dakota

Standard

0.1 ug/100 cm2

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Contractors (not certified by the DOH)

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Tennessee

Standard

0.1 ug/100 cm2

Special Cleanup Procedures

Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC) certified CML Hygienist, or Certified Industrial Hygienist must be contacted to test and certifiy that it is "Safe for Human Use" in order to have it released from quarantine

Who performs the cleanup?

CML Cleanup Contractors and Hygienists

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner or Lien Holder; Some insurance policies may cover cost associated with a cleanup, but most do not

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Texas

Standard

No Standard

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

No Standard

Who pays for the cleanup?

No Standard

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

No Standard

Utah

Standard

No Standard

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

No Standard

Who pays for the cleanup?

No Standard

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

No Standard

Vermont

Standard

No Standard

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Someone with specialized training

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner; State and Local Police Budgets; Land Owners

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Virginia

Standard

No Standard

Special Cleanup Procedures

DEA's regulated cleanup contractor will be contacted to make arrangements for removal of gross contaminants

Who performs the cleanup?

Only Certified Clandestine Lab Respnse Personnel for initial response; Property Owner

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Washington

Standard

<0.1 ug/100 cm2

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Contractors (certified by the DOH)

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

West Virginia

Standard

1.5 mg/100cm2

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Contractors

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Wisconsin

Standard

No standard; based on a visual/sensory assessment and how well the cleanup guidelines were followed

Special Cleanup Procedures

Sampling not needed; if environment is contaminated, then notify the right agency

Who performs the cleanup?

Contractors; Property Owners

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab

Wyoming

Standard

No Standard

Special Cleanup Procedures

None

Who performs the cleanup?

Environmental companies trained in hazardous substance removal and cleanup; Property Owner

Who pays for the cleanup?

Property Owner

Pertains to clan labs, smoking, or both?

Clan Lab