How old Sonoma County housing is
The American Community Survey counts about 208,000 homes in the county. About 52 percent were built before 1980, and the median year built is 1979.
With that many older homes, testing before a remodel is common. Old pipe insulation and textured ceiling paint can carry asbestos, EPA notes, and houses from before 1978 are where lead-based paint turns up more often.
Wet winters
NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for the Sonoma County airport near Santa Rosa show about 34 inches of rain a year, with about 28 inches falling from November through March. December is the wettest month.
That much winter rain finds weak spots in roofs, windows and crawl spaces. Moisture mapping can trace a leak, and mold testing looks at air or surfaces if you see growth or smell something musty.
Smoke and fire testing
If smoke or ash reached a home in Sonoma County, you can request smoke and fire testing. A partner can sample soot and ash on surfaces and have their lab analyze it.
North and south air districts
CARB lists the northern part of Sonoma County under the Northern Sonoma County APCD and the southern part under the Bay Area AQMD. Whether you're north or south decides where an asbestos notice goes before demolition or renovation.
Services
Nearby
- San Francisco Bay Area
- Marin County
- Solano County
- Santa Rosa
- Napa County
- Lake County
- Mendocino County
Questions
Can I get ash or smoke testing in Sonoma County?
Yes, you can request smoke and fire testing. The partner explains what they collect from surfaces and what their lab looks for.
Which air district covers my address?
CARB splits the county between a northern district and the Bay Area AQMD. Your contractor or partner can tell you which side of that line your property is on.