Asbestos testing labs in Georgia

Georgia asbestos rules in brief

• Who runs the program: The Georgia Environmental Protection Division's Lead-Based Paint and Asbestos Program enforces Georgia's asbestos rule, reviews project notifications and licenses asbestos removal companies. (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 391-3-14) source
• Licensing: Companies that remove asbestos in Georgia must hold a Georgia license and assign a Primary Agent (project supervisor); everyone on a removal project must have federal training. (Chapter 391-3-14) source
• Notice before work: In Georgia, a Renovation/Abatement Project Notification must be submitted to the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) at least 10 working days before work starts if 10 square feet or 10 linear feet or more of friable or potentially friable asbestos-containing material is to be removed. A Demolition Project Notification must be submitted at least 10 working days before any demolition, whether or not asbestos is present. (Chapter 391-3-14; 40 CFR Part 61 Subpart M) source

Read on the official pages linked, November 15, 2026, and re-checked by a second reader. A summary, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the agency before work starts.

Older homes in Georgia and where the labs are

In Georgia, 1,429,569 of 4,541,835 housing units (31%) were built before 1980, rank 43 of 45 states and DC by that share (Census ACS 2020–2024, table B25034). Homes of that age are the ones most likely to contain asbestos-containing materials such as insulation, flooring and popcorn ceilings. The counties with the most older homes, and how far each is from the nearest NVLAP-accredited asbestos lab site:

Over 50 miles from the nearest listed site: Chatham County, Muscogee County, Richmond County. Many labs accept samples by mail; ask before you ship. Distance runs from the county’s centre (mean of its ZIP-code points) to the lab’s ZIP-code point, in a straight line. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25034 (Year structure built), county level, downloaded November 15, 2026.

How far the labs stretch in Georgia

Georgia has 3 listed asbestos lab sites for about 1,429,569 homes built before 1980: one site per 476,523 older homes, the 17th most stretched of 35 states with a listed site (the middle state has one per 455,948).

• 3 of the 3 sites are accredited for material samples by PLM (pieces of popcorn ceiling, vinyl floor tile, pipe wrap or other building material).
• No site in Georgia is accredited for air samples by TEM; the nearest that is, across the state line, is about 120 miles from the closest Georgia county centre. Labs often accept these samples by mail.

Counts from the accreditation list; homes from Census ACS 2020–2024 (B25034). A site count, not capacity: one lab can process many samples, and many accept samples by mail.

Labs here that print a homeowner price

• EMSL Analytical, Inc.: $95.00 per sample · lab’s page

As printed on the lab’s website, read November 13, 2026. Confirm the price and the test with the lab. Compare all published prices, including labs in other states.