Meth and some other drugs leave residue on walls, floors and air ducts. In Washington, cleaning up an illegal drug lab or drug storage site follows state rules.
Who can do the work
The Washington State Department of Health certifies workers, supervisors and contractors who clean up illegal drug labs, through its Drug Lab Cleanup Program1. State law says a contractor, supervisor or worker may not do decontamination, demolition or disposal work without a certificate from the department (RCW 64.44.0602).
The department keeps a list of drug lab cleanup companies3 it has certified. It says the list is not an endorsement. Ask any company you call whether it is on that list.
The local health officer's role
When law enforcement learns a property has been contaminated, it reports it to the local health officer, who posts a written warning and inspects the property (RCW 64.44.0204). If the property is contaminated, the health officer issues an order declaring it unfit and prohibiting its use (RCW 64.44.0305).
The owner must use an authorized contractor unless the local health officer allows otherwise. After the approved work plan is done and the property is retested, the health officer allows it to be used again (RCW 64.44.050).
Questions about a property
The Department of Health asks people to contact their local health department with questions about a contaminated property or the status of a cleanup. The full rules are in chapter 64.44 RCW and chapter 246-205 WAC.
For more on who may clean a drug lab and what an owner must do, read our guide: Cleaning up after a drug lab or drug residue in Washington.
Who to call first
In an emergency, call 911.These official offices may be part of the first steps. They are government pages, not ours.
- County medical examiners and coroners After a sudden or unexpected death, cleanup waits until the county's office is done.
- Washington Crime Victims Compensation Program (L&I) (opens in a new tab)If a crime happened, it may help with some costs, such as funeral expenses. It doesn't pay for cleanup.
- Verify a contractor (L&I lookup) (opens in a new tab)Look up whether a company is a registered contractor before work starts.
- Washington State Department of Health (opens in a new tab)State health rules, such as for drug lab cleanup and hantavirus.