Regulations / State
South Carolina asbestos regulations.
Who licenses asbestos work in South Carolina, who takes the notification, and how long before the job you have to file. Plus how the federal rules layer on top.
State licensing & accreditation
Asbestos abatement work in South Carolina is licensed/accredited through the South Carolina Dept. of Environmental Services (SCDES), Bureau of Air Quality, Asbestos Section under S.C. Code Regs. 61-86.1; S.C. Code Ann. Title 44, Chapter 87.
Credentials the state issues:
- Contractor / abatement entity
- Supervisor
- Worker
- Building Inspector
- Management Planner
- Project Designer
- Air Sampler
- Asbestos Project License (per-project)
- Demolition License
Notification
Notifications go to the South Carolina Dept. of Environmental Services (SCDES), Bureau of Air Quality under S.C. Code Regs. 61-86.1.
- Advance notice: 10 working days.
- Notification details / form.
How the federal rules layer in
No matter the state, federal OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101 (asbestos in construction), EPA NESHAP (40 CFR 61, Subpart M), and AHERA worker accreditation still apply. A state program layers its own licensing and notification on top of — not instead of — these. Where South Carolina has no state license, the federal accreditation and NESHAP notification requirements are the floor.
South Carolina-specific notes
- DHEC's environmental functions became SCDES effective July 1, 2024; the statute (Title 44 Ch. 87) still names DHEC.
- A per-project asbestos license and/or demolition license is required in addition to personnel licenses.
- Demolition of any regulated facility requires 10-working-day notice even with no ACM.
- Notifications via the SCDES ePermitting system.
Official sources
Related
- All asbestos regulations by state
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101 — Asbestos in Construction
- EPA NESHAP — 40 CFR 61, Subpart M
- Asbestos abatement software
- Compliance reporting in Nexus
Items we could not fully verify against a primary source: License-type list compiled from 61-86.1 role definitions rather than a single official roster page.
Last reviewed against the published rules: 2026-05-28. This is a summary, not legal advice. Asbestos rules — and the agencies that run them — change; confirm the current requirements with the South Carolina Dept. of Environmental Services (SCDES), Bureau of Air Quality and read the actual rule before making a compliance decision.
South Carolina asbestos: common questions
Do I need a license to do asbestos abatement in South Carolina?
Yes — South Carolina regulates who can perform asbestos abatement. South Carolina Dept. of Environmental Services (SCDES), Bureau of Air Quality, Asbestos Section. Relevant credentials include Contractor / abatement entity, Supervisor, Worker, and others.
Who do I notify before asbestos work in South Carolina, and how far in advance?
Notifications go to the South Carolina Dept. of Environmental Services (SCDES), Bureau of Air Quality (S.C. Code Regs. 61-86.1). Required advance notice: 10 working days.
Do the federal OSHA and EPA asbestos rules still apply in South Carolina?
Yes. Federal OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101, EPA NESHAP (40 CFR 61, Subpart M), and AHERA worker accreditation apply nationwide — South Carolina's rules layer on top of them, not instead of them.
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