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Crime Scene Cleanup Rules by State

State-by-state guide · checked November 2026

Crime scene cleanup rules, state by state.

Who regulates the work where you live, whether cleanup companies need a state license, and whether your state’s victim compensation program helps pay. Every line links to the official source we checked.

The short version

What every family should know

  1. Most states have no special cleanup license.Of the states we cover, only California and Georgia require a registration or license written for trauma scene cleanup. Florida regulates it through biomedical waste permits.
  2. Federal safety rules apply everywhere.OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard covers cleanup workers, and blood-soaked waste must be handled and hauled as regulated medical waste.
  3. Victim compensation often helps.22 of the 25 state programs below cover crime scene cleanup in some form. Limits run from $500 to $5,000, and two states don’t cover it at all.
  4. Always confirm with the company and the program.Rules and limits change. Ask the company how it handles waste, and call your program before you count on a payment.

Everywhere in the U.S.

The national rules

These apply in every state, whatever the state adds on top.

OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard

29 CFR 1910.1030 protects workers exposed to blood. OSHA has confirmed in writing that it applies to companies that clean up after homicides, suicides and unattended deaths, and that the waste is regulated waste.

The standard ↗OSHA letter, 2007 ↗

When HAZWOPER applies

OSHA says routine crime and trauma scene cleanup falls under the bloodborne pathogens and protective equipment standards. HAZWOPER training applies when workers respond to a declared emergency.

OSHA letter, 2020 ↗

Transporting medical waste

The U.S. Department of Transportation classes regulated medical waste as a hazardous material (Division 6.2) when it’s hauled on public roads.

49 CFR 173.134 ↗

States run medical waste rules

The EPA has had no medical waste authority since 1991. States set the rules for storing, hauling and treating it, so each state card below names its agency.

EPA on medical waste ↗

ANSI/IICRC S540

The industry’s consensus standard for trauma and crime scene cleanup. It’s voluntary, but the best companies train and work to it. The current edition is from 2023.

IICRC S540 ↗Our explainer

Check a company

States that publish a list

In these three states you can check a company against a state list before you hire.

California

Registered Trauma Scene Waste Management Practitioners, kept by the Department of Public Health.

CDPH registration and list ↗

Georgia

Trauma scene waste management companies are licensed through the Secretary of State.

Georgia SOS licensing ↗

Florida

The Department of Health lists trauma scene cleanup companies by county, with their biomedical waste transporter numbers.

Florida DOH list ↗

Your state

Rules in the states we cover

Tap a state to jump to it.

Florida

Find a company →
Cleanup license
Waste permitWaste permit and registration. The state doesn't regulate cleanup methods, but a company needs a Department of Health biomedical waste permit to haul 25 pounds or more from a scene, and must be a registered transporter. DOH publishes a list by county.
Waste rules
Florida Dept. of Health, Biomedical Waste Program ↗
Victim compensation
Covers cleanupCovers cleanup up to $1,500, for costs within 7 days of the crime. Source ↗

Georgia

Find a company →
Cleanup license
RequiredLicense required. Companies must be licensed by the Georgia Secretary of State (O.C.G.A. 43-46A), with a surety bond, insurance and training on file. Working without one can bring a fine of up to $5,000.
Waste rules
Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) ↗
Victim compensation
Covers cleanupCovers crime scene sanitization up to $1,500, with an itemized bill from a trained cleanup company. Source ↗
This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. We checked each line against the official source linked on it in November 2026. Programs change their limits, so confirm with the agency before you rely on a payment. “No state license” means we found no license written for crime scene cleanup; general business, waste and safety rules still apply.

Common questions

Rules and who pays

Does my state require a license for crime scene cleanup?

Among the states we cover, California requires registration with the Department of Public Health and Georgia requires a license from the Secretary of State. Florida requires a biomedical waste permit and transporter registration. The others have no license written for this work, but federal OSHA rules and state medical waste rules still apply.

Will victim compensation pay for crime scene cleanup?

In most of the states we cover, yes, up to a limit. Missouri and Washington don’t cover it. Most programs need a police report, and some have deadlines, like 7 days in Florida or 30 days in Kentucky. Many cleanup companies will help with the paperwork or bill the program directly.

Should I try insurance or victim compensation first?

Homeowner’s and renter’s policies often cover cleanup, and compensation programs usually pay what insurance doesn’t. Many of the companies we verify tell us they try to bill insurance first. Ask the company you call, and see what cleanup costs and who pays.

How do I check that a company follows these rules?

Ask who hauls their medical waste and where it goes, and whether their crew is trained under OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard. In California, Georgia or Florida, check the state list above. Our 12 questions to ask cover the rest.

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More help

Paying for cleanup

Crime Scene Cleanup Directory

The verified directory of licensed crime scene and biohazard cleanup companies, and a magazine for the people who work alongside them: law enforcement, funeral directors, cleanup professionals and the families they serve.

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