Regulations / State
Tennessee asbestos regulations.
Who licenses asbestos work in Tennessee, 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 Tennessee is licensed/accredited through the Tennessee Dept. of Environment & Conservation (TDEC), Division of Solid Waste Management (accreditation) under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-13-02; Tennessee Asbestos Contractor Accreditation & Regulation Act (Tenn. Code Title 62, Ch. 41).
Credentials the state issues:
- Firm accreditation (schools and public/commercial buildings)
- Inspector
- Management Planner
- Supervisor
- Project Designer
- Worker
- Project Monitor
Notification
Notifications go to the Tennessee Dept. of Environment & Conservation (TDEC), Division of Air Pollution Control under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-03-11-.02(2)(d) (adopts 40 CFR 61.145).
- 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 Tennessee has no state license, the federal accreditation and NESHAP notification requirements are the floor.
Tennessee-specific notes
- Two TDEC divisions: Solid Waste Management for accreditation, Air Pollution Control for NESHAP notification.
- Firm accreditation is limited to schools and public/commercial buildings.
- Notification form CN-1055; weekday holidays count as working days, weekends do not.
- Project Monitor is a distinct accredited discipline.
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: Accreditation rule was previously numbered 1200-01-20; TN frames firm accreditation rather than a contractor license per se.
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 Tennessee Dept. of Environment & Conservation (TDEC), Division of Air Pollution Control and read the actual rule before making a compliance decision.
Tennessee asbestos: common questions
Do I need a license to do asbestos abatement in Tennessee?
Yes — Tennessee regulates who can perform asbestos abatement. Tennessee Dept. of Environment & Conservation (TDEC), Division of Solid Waste Management (accreditation). Relevant credentials include Firm accreditation (schools and public/commercial buildings), Inspector, Management Planner, and others.
Who do I notify before asbestos work in Tennessee, and how far in advance?
Notifications go to the Tennessee Dept. of Environment & Conservation (TDEC), Division of Air Pollution Control (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-03-11-.02(2)(d) (adopts 40 CFR 61.145)). Required advance notice: 10 working days.
Do the federal OSHA and EPA asbestos rules still apply in Tennessee?
Yes. Federal OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101, EPA NESHAP (40 CFR 61, Subpart M), and AHERA worker accreditation apply nationwide — Tennessee's rules layer on top of them, not instead of them.
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