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Home > City Departments > Permit and Inspection Services > Inspections > Demolition > Asbestos Abatement

Asbestos Abatement


Address – Room 304 City Hall, Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone – (716) 851-4914

The City Asbestos Abatement Section oversees and regulates all aspects of asbestos abatement for Buffalo. It works with the demolition section, the permit office, and the New York State Department of Labor.

Asbestos - containing materials (ACM's) must be removed before demolition at any site, and sometimes before interior tear-out in preparation for renovations in a building. An asbestos survey of a site must be done prior to any such work for any building built before 1974.

Sites are first inspected by licensed private asbestos inspectors. If, upon inspection, no ACM's are found at a site, the completed survey form states this. If a follow-up inspection by City asbestos inspectors confirms no ACM's a 105-D form is issued closing the asbestos abatement. If asbestos is found by first survey or by City inspection, asbestos must be removed under permit.

Asbestos abatement in Buffalo can only be done by an asbestos contractor licensed as such with the city.

There is one exception to this regulation: in the case of a homeowner-occupied single-family dwelling, asbestos may be removed by the homeowner. If the homeowner's removal and haul-out costs are below $750.00, there is no permit necessary; otherwise a permit is taken out by the homeowner. It is recommended that the owner water-soak asbestos prior to removal, and double-bag it in contractors' garbage bags. Disposal can pose a problem. The City is not required to pick up asbestos refuse; it is usually at the discretion of the garbage crew. However, once bagged it may be brought to the City's waste site at 264 Hopkins Avenue - enter from Tifft Street – and, bring along a recent city tax bill as proof of residency.

The New York State Department of Labor regulates asbestos abatement. Their Industrial Code rule 56 - more fully quoted as 12NYCRR, Part 56 – is the section of law which covers asbestos. You can view the full text of this code at www.labor.state.ny.us , entering "Part 56" into the Search, clicking on the first result, then scrolling down that page and clicking on part 56.

For a list of City-licensed asbestos contractors or any other questions, please call Larry Schiavone at (716-) 851-4914.