Regulations / State
Wisconsin asbestos regulations.
Who licenses asbestos work in Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin is licensed/accredited through the Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services (DHS), Asbestos Program under Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 159 (auth. Wis. Stat. § 254.20).
Credentials the state issues:
- Asbestos company certification
- Worker
- Supervisor
- Inspector
- Management planner
- Project designer
- Exterior asbestos worker
- Exterior asbestos supervisor
- Training course accreditation
Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services (DHS), Asbestos Program — asbestos licensing.
Notification
Notifications go to the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources (WDNR) under Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 447 (Control of Asbestos Emissions); notification at NR 447.07.
- Advance notice: At least 10 working days before stripping/removal or demolition (next working day for ordered demolitions or emergencies).
- 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 Wisconsin has no state license, the federal accreditation and NESHAP notification requirements are the floor.
Wisconsin-specific notes
- DHS regulates individual and company certification under DHS 159; demolition/renovation NESHAP notification is a separate WDNR responsibility.
- Wisconsin requires training to be completed in-state before certification.
- Individuals disturbing/removing ACM must be certified AND work for a certified asbestos company.
- WDNR notification is filed on Form 4500-113 via the online Asbestos Renovation & Demolition Notification (ARDN) system.
- Renovation thresholds: 260 linear ft / 160 sq ft / 35 cu ft of RACM; a single residential structure of 4 or fewer units is exempt unless part of a larger project.
Official sources
- Wisconsin DHS Asbestos Program
- WDNR Asbestos Removal & Notification
- Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 447 (Asbestos emissions / notification)
- Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 159 (certification)
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: Authorizing statute for certification (§ 254.20) from secondary context.
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 Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources (WDNR) and read the actual rule before making a compliance decision.
Wisconsin asbestos: common questions
Do I need a license to do asbestos abatement in Wisconsin?
Yes — Wisconsin regulates who can perform asbestos abatement. Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services (DHS), Asbestos Program. Relevant credentials include Asbestos company certification, Worker, Supervisor, and others.
Who do I notify before asbestos work in Wisconsin, and how far in advance?
Notifications go to the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources (WDNR) (Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 447 (Control of Asbestos Emissions); notification at NR 447.07). Required advance notice: At least 10 working days before stripping/removal or demolition (next working day for ordered demolitions or emergencies).
Do the federal OSHA and EPA asbestos rules still apply in Wisconsin?
Yes. Federal OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101, EPA NESHAP (40 CFR 61, Subpart M), and AHERA worker accreditation apply nationwide — Wisconsin's rules layer on top of them, not instead of them.
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