Meth Lab Resources

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) works to protect human health by providing information about the hazards of meth exposure to people. MDH provides links to guidance and best practices for the remediation (cleaning) of clandestine methamphetamine production laboratories (meth labs) and decontamination of property exposed to meth lab activities. MDH does not provide technical assistance or consultation on these activities.

Information about Methamphetamine is available on the United States Drug Enforcement Administration website.

Clean up guidance

Voluntary guidelines for methamphetamine and fentanyl laboratory cleanup are maintained by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. MDH does not maintain methamphetamine Laboratory Cleanup Guidance at this time and recommends use of the EPA guidance which was updated in August 2021.

• Link to webpage for the Voluntary Guidelines for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Laboratory Cleanup - Document | US EPA
• The guidelines are geared towards state and local government personnel charged with remediating or otherwise addressing former methamphetamine (meth) and fentanyl labs.
• This document helps disseminate the best available knowledge and research on meth and fentanyl lab remediation and will also prove useful to cleanup contractors and could be a resource for homeowners.

In Minnesota

If a property was declared a meth lab by local authority after January 1, 2006, it should be listed on the deed to the property. If this is the case, any remediation (cleanup) measures taken should also be listed on the deed.

• Local Community Health Services Agencies (CHS) maintain lists of properties declared meth labs.
• If you want to check whether or not a property is on the list, contact the local health department in that area at Find a Local or Tribal Health Department or Community Health Board.
• The Drug Enforcement Administration also maintains a register of clandestine labs across the country. You can check the lists on the National Clandestine Laboratory Register for the property that you are interested in.

A local authority or county official will oversee cleanup of declared meth labs.

• The authority to abate public health nuisances is described in Minnesota Statutes, section 145.04, subdivision 8. Meth labs are classified as public health nuisances per Minnesota Statutes, section 152.0275, subdivision 2(d).
• The statute lays out the process to do this work.
• MDH does not qualify, license, nor certify companies to clean up meth labs. Meth lab sites are considered to be hazardous waste sites under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.120. Contractors are responsible for knowing and following the requirements set forth by CFR 1910.120.

According to Minnesota law, sellers are required to disclose if a property was used for methamphetamine production if they have knowledge of this activity. This requirement can be found in 2017 Minnesota Statutes, section 152.0275, subdivision 2(m). Along with that disclosure statement, the seller must inform the buyer of the following:

• Whether local authority issued an order on the property that it must be properly remediated before it could be occupied.
• Whether any orders issued were vacated upon completion of remediation.
• The status of removal and remediation on the property when there was no order issued, but the seller is aware that meth lab activity occurred.

Other resource

Fentanyl Exposure and Cleanup (PDF)