When did popcorn ceilings stop containing asbestos?

The EPA banned spray-applied asbestos surfacing materials in two steps: in 1973 for fireproofing and insulation, and in 1978 for the remaining uses. Asbestos-containing texture has still turned up in ceilings applied through the 1980s, so homes built before the 1990s should be tested before removal. Only a lab test can tell you about yours.

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Why the build year isn't proof

• A ban on new spraying didn't take asbestos out of ceilings that were already textured.
• Asbestos-containing texture has been found in ceilings applied through the 1980s, after the bans on new spraying.
• Older houses sometimes had their ceilings redone, and newer ones were sometimes patched with older material.
• The Consumer Product Safety Commission notes that textured paints and joint patching compounds could also contain asbestos until their use was banned in 1977.

Can you tell by looking?

No. The EPA says you generally can't tell whether a material contains asbestos by looking at it unless it's labeled, and that if in doubt you should treat it as if it does and leave it alone.

How to get a popcorn ceiling tested

A trained professional takes a small sample and sends it to a lab. The EPA recommends against taking samples yourself. Testing only matters if the ceiling is going to be disturbed: the EPA says material in good condition that won't be scraped, sanded or cut can be left in place. When you're planning removal, test before any quote is final. Asbestos testing walks through the steps.

What Florida requires if it's positive

Florida licenses asbestos contractors and consultants through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and defines abatement as the removal, encapsulation, enclosure or disposal of asbestos. Licensed contractors do abatement, with one exception: an owner may remove asbestos from a residential building they live in, if it isn't for sale or lease, after personally applying for the building permit.

Federal asbestos rules for renovation (the NESHAP) exclude isolated residential buildings with four or fewer dwelling units, so most single-family homes fall outside them. Condominium buildings are covered. See popcorn removal in a Florida condo.

Who to call in Central Florida

• Orange County: the Environmental Protection Division, 407-836-1400, which runs the local asbestos program
• Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Volusia and Brevard counties: the Florida DEP Central District office, 407-897-4100
• Contractor and consultant licensing: the Department of Business and Professional Regulation

Leave it, cover it or remove it

Asbestos popcorn in good shape can stay where it is. If you want it gone, removal by a licensed abatement contractor is the usual route. Covering it with new drywall avoids disturbing it, but in Florida, enclosing asbestos is abatement when a contractor does it. The remove, cover or paint guide compares the options.

Reviewed by August Heckmann. Last reviewed October 15, 2026. How we check our information.