Windsor Environmental · Updated November 2026
Short answer: An ACP-5 is the Asbestos Assessment Report filed with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). A DEP-certified asbestos investigator signs it after inspecting the area your work will disturb. DOB uses it to confirm your project won’t disturb asbestos above minor amounts, so the permit can be issued.
Who needs an ACP-5
Most alteration and demolition permits in buildings built before 1987 that physically disturb building materials. Kitchen and bath renovations, gut renovations, plumbing and HVAC work, roofing and demolition are the usual triggers. Buildings built after April 1, 1987, and permits with no physical work, can usually use DOB’s asbestos exemption instead.
How the process works
- A DEP-certified investigator visits and samples every material your scope will touch.
- Samples go to an accredited lab (PLM; floor tiles and mastics often need TEM).
- If the area is clear, or the asbestos involved is minor (25 linear feet / 10 square feet or less), the investigator files the ACP-5.
- DOB verifies it and the permit moves forward.
What if asbestos is found?
If your work will disturb more than minor amounts, a licensed contractor removes it under a DEP filing called an ACP-7, with independent air monitoring. When the work passes, DEP issues an ACP-21 completion form, which goes to DOB in place of the ACP-5. Complex jobs (blocked exits, occupied buildings) may need a variance.
How long does it take?
Typically a few business days from inspection to lab results, with rush lab options. Removal adds filing time plus a few days on site for most apartments.
What it costs
For a typical apartment, expect an inspection fee plus lab fees per sample and the DEP filing fee. The total depends on how many materials need to be sampled.
Questions
Does every NYC renovation need an ACP-5?
No. Work in post-1987 buildings, or permits with no physical disturbance, typically uses the exemption. Everything else needs an asbestos investigation.
Who can sign an ACP-5?
Only a NYC DEP-certified asbestos investigator.
Is the ACP-5 the same as an asbestos survey?
The survey is the inspection; the ACP-5 is the form filed with DEP based on it.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change. We’ll confirm what applies to your property when you call.
