Older buildings, and a lot of them
About 7 in 10 homes in the city of Los Angeles were built before 1980, and nearly 1 in 5 before 1940, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Asbestos was common in building materials before 1980, and some later materials contain it too. Ceiling texture, flooring, wallboard, pipe wrap, and duct insulation are common places to check.
Apartments and condos follow the air district's rule
Nearly half the homes in Los Angeles are in buildings with five or more units. Los Angeles is in the South Coast AQMD's area, where Rule 1403 calls for an asbestos survey by an asbestos consultant before a demolition or renovation. The narrow exception is a renovation of a house where less than 100 square feet of intact material is removed.
The rule's owner-occupant exemption covers only a house the owner lives in and renovates personally. It doesn't cover apartments, condos, townhouses, or rentals. The air district also asks for notice 10 working days before a demolition, or before more than 100 square feet of asbestos-containing material is removed. Your city or county may have its own permit steps. This is a summary, not legal advice; the South Coast AQMD publishes the full rule.
Who takes the samples
In California, the person who surveys and samples for asbestos holds an individual Cal/OSHA certification as a Certified Asbestos Consultant (CAC) or Site Surveillance Technician (CSST). Ask your partner who will do the survey, then look that person up on Cal/OSHA's list.
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