Asbestos Removal Cost in Los Angeles [2025 Data]

Normal Range: $807 - $2,017

The average asbestos removal cost is $1,393 in Los Angeles, California, but prices can range from $807 to $2,017 based on your pro’s removal process. 

How we get this data
A loft getting converted with roof windows
Liliya Trott / Adobe Stock Photography
A loft getting converted with roof windows
Liliya Trott / Adobe Stock Photography
Cost Insights
  • The amount of material you need to remove and the type of asbestos in your home are the two primary cost factors.

  • The average home in Los Angeles was built in 1971, well before the hazards of asbestos were well-documented, so most homes likely contain asbestos material.

  • Los Angeles County and California both have strict regulations that require the testing, preparation, and proper handling of materials, necessitating professional assistance.

  • The cost of living in LA is 43% higher than the national average, and this contributes to above-average labor costs.

  • Asbestos encapsulation is legal in California, making it a more affordable option in some cases.

Asbestos removal costs in Los Angeles average $1,393, and most residents pay between $807 and $2,017 for the service. The high cost of living in the area drives up labor costs, particularly for labor-intensive jobs such as asbestos abatement. Hiring a professional can be expensive, but it’s the best and only legal way to abide by the city’s strict regulations regarding asbestos handling and disposal.

Asbestos Removal Cost Factors

Asbestos removal costs in Los Angeles, California, can range from as low as $500 to as high as $3,800. To get an accurate estimate for your project, you’ll need to consider the amount of material you need to remove, the type of asbestos you have, how accessible it is, and how close you are to an approved dumping site.

Size of the Affected Area

An indoor asbestos remediation project costs between $7 and $30 per square foot, depending on the location. The bigger the space, the more you'll pay. Removing asbestos from exterior locations, like a roof or siding, costs $70 to $215 per square foot. Whole-home remediation can cost $8,200 or more. Unfortunately, since most homes in LA were built in the early 70s when asbestos was still widely in use, the risk of needing whole-home remediation is relatively high.

If you’ve already had an asbestos inspection completed and know how many square feet of asbestos are in your home, you can use the table below to get an estimate for your project. Note that the prices in the table do not include asbestos abatement permit fees, as set by the City of Los Angeles, which are a flat rate of $300 for residential customers. There is also an additional charge of $0.09 per 1,000 square feet beyond the initial 1,000 square feet.

Affected Area (Square Feet)Average Removal Cost
10$70–$290
25$175–$725
50$350–$1,450
100$700–$2,900
150$1,050–$4,350

Type of Asbestos

The removal process is similar for all types and colors of asbestos, but some fibers are smaller than others, requiring greater attention to detail during setup and removal. There are six common types of asbestos used in residential construction. Most will result in similar charges for removal, but amosite and crocidolite are more difficult to contain, leading to higher costs.

Type of AsbestosAverage Removal Cost
Actinolite$1,400
Amosite$1,540
Anthophyllite$1,400
Chrysotile$1,400
Crocidolite$1,470
Tremolite$1,400
6 asbestos types compared visually, with chrysotile being white and amosite being brown

Location in the Home

It costs less to remove asbestos from accessible locations, while inaccessible locations may require additional demolition and more extensive sealing. The City of Los Angeles requires contractors to seal off areas and use negative-pressure fans to control the spread of airborne fibers.

To remove asbestos from a floor pipe spanning three rooms, each room would need sealing and a fan setup, plus demolition to reach the asbestos. If a pipe of similar length is in an exposed basement, your pro will only need to seal one area, and demolition is less likely.

Exterior materials are a major exception to the pricing based on accessibility. Things like dangerous asbestos siding and roofing are easily accessible, but they’re not practical to seal for containment. As such, your pro will need to work more carefully to ensure they don’t break the materials while they work.

Material LocationAverage Removal Cost (Per Square Foot)
Attic insulation$15–$40
Basement$7–$30
Flooring$7–$25
HVAC ducts$50–$80
Pipe insulation$7–$25
Popcorn ceilings$15–$30
Roof and shingles$75–$175
Siding$5–$25
Walls/drywall$15–$20

Disposal Fees

Disposal fees for asbestos material in Los Angeles average between $110 and $360. However, this only includes transporting the material. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and the LA County Department of Public Health impose strict regulations when it comes to removing, handling, and disposing of asbestos materials. The added work involved in abiding by these protocols won’t necessarily drive disposal fees higher, but they will increase labor costs.

Asbestos Removal Pro Costs

On average, you can expect to pay between $1,100 and $1,350 for labor alone when you hire an asbestos removal company in Los Angeles, California, which means labor accounts for 80% to 95% of your total. On a per-hour basis, labor costs over 40% more in LA than in the rest of the country, largely because of the high cost of living.

Hiring a professional for asbestos removal is costly, especially considering that pros will have to pull permits, which come with minimum permit fees of $300. However, Los Angeles only allows licensed pros to remove and handle asbestos, so hiring an expert is the only legal way to get your project done.

Additionally, it’s unsafe to work with asbestos, so the investment in professional labor is well worth it. A pro will seal the work areas and use special equipment to prevent contamination throughout your home, and by law, the process must include a special cleaning service—so you can be sure that hiring a pro will yield the safest results possible for you and your family.

Angi Tip

Leave asbestos removal to the professionals. Long periods of exposure to a high volume of disturbed asbestos can have harmful effects on your health, including serious diseases like asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.

Does Removing Asbestos Increase Home Value?

Removing asbestos won’t increase your home value, but it could help widen your buyer pool since some buyers may not be willing to purchase a home with a known asbestos issue. A bigger buyer pool could mean more competition, which may yield a higher purchase price.

More importantly, removing asbestos is worth the investment because it means a safer place for you and your family.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.

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