When a property is on a list
In some states, a property where a clandestine drug lab was found is placed under a quarantine order or on a public registry. Owners usually learn about it from a posted notice, a letter from a state agency or law enforcement, a title search, or a buyer's or lender's due diligence. Until the property is properly remediated and released, it may be illegal to occupy, hard to sell and difficult to finance.
Getting a property released is a defined process, but the steps, forms and credential requirements differ by state, and missing one can mean starting over.
How state processes differ
- Tennessee. TDEC maintains a Registry of Methamphetamine Contaminated Properties. To have a quarantine lifted, an owner retains a Certified CML Specialist (or a Certified Industrial Hygienist) for testing and an authorized contractor for decontamination. Additional documentation requirements then apply. Tennessee rules address vehicles as well as buildings.
- Arkansas. DEQ lists methamphetamine-contaminated properties and removes a property after it receives, reviews and approves a final cleanup report from a certified Clandestine Laboratory Remediation Contractor.
- Kentucky. Contaminated inhabitable properties are posted, and decontamination must be performed by a cabinet-certified contractor, who documents the work on a Contractor's Certificate of Decontamination submitted to the Division of Waste Management.
- West Virginia. The owner must keep a notified property unoccupied until the state certifies completed remediation. Licensed contractors submit a preliminary remediation plan before beginning.
Other states use different approaches, and some have none. Local health departments or code offices may also have requirements.
What we do
- Review your notice. We read the order, notice or registry entry with you and identify the agency and rules involved.
- Map the steps. You get a plain-language checklist of what your state requires and in what order.
- Arrange credentialed parties. Where the state requires certified or licensed testers or contractors, the regulated work is performed by parties holding those credentials. We confirm their credentials with you before work begins.
- Coordinate remediation and testing through to clearance.
- Assemble documentation in the form the agency expects, and track the submission.
What we can't do
We can't remove a property from a state list ourselves. Only the agency can do that. We also can't guarantee agency timelines or provide legal advice about disclosure, title or liability questions. A real estate attorney can advise on those.
Buying a listed property
If you're considering buying a quarantined or listed property, the cost and timeline of release should be part of your decision. We can help you understand the process before you commit.