Paying for cleanup

Who pays for biohazard cleanup?

There is no single answer. It depends on what happened, where it happened and what insurance is in place. These are the usual places to look, roughly in the order to try them.

Homeowners or renters insurance

Some policies pay for cleanup after a death or a crime in the home; others limit it or leave it out. Call the number on your policy before work starts, and ask what it covers and what records it wants.

If a policy is unclear, the California Department of Insurance consumer hotline, 800-927-4357, explains how coverage works. It cannot promise what your insurer will pay.

California victim compensation

After a crime in a home or a vehicle, the CalVCB can reimburse crime scene clean-up. Relatives can apply, not only the victim. It pays after insurance and other sources, and only for cleanup by a company registered with the California Department of Public Health.

In Sonoma County, the District Attorney's Victim Compensation Unit helps people start the application with an advocate.

The landlord

In a rental, talk to the landlord or manager before hiring anyone. Who pays depends on the lease and the owner's insurance, and the owner may want to choose the company.

The estate

When the person who died owned the home, cleanup is often paid from the estate. The executor or administrator should agree to the work and keep the invoice.

What moves the price

Prices are set by the company you hire, not by this site, and no two jobs are alike. These are the things that make the biggest difference:

how far fluids spread, and into which materials
how long before the person or the scene was found
how much carpet, flooring, drywall or furniture has to come out
how much waste there is to seal and transport
access: stairs, a crawl space, a locked building
whether the work runs at night or across several days

Ask for the price in writing before work starts, with a list of what will be removed.

Common questions

Will the cleanup company deal with my insurer for me?

That is between you and the company. This site does not handle insurance claims. Many people find it easiest to call their insurer first and then share what the insurer asks for.

Is there a deadline for victim compensation?

Yes, and there are exceptions. Ask CalVCB or the District Attorney's advocates about your case before you wait.

Talk to a cleanup company about your home

Describe what happened and which rooms are affected, and say whether the police or the coroner have finished. The company will explain the work and its price.

Ready to talk to a cleanup company?

You will speak with an independent biohazard cleanup company that works in Santa Rosa and nearby towns. Ask what it would do and what it would charge. Nothing is agreed until you say so.

Call (707) 271-4587

Answered 24 hours a day, every day

Calls may be recorded. The referral disclosure explains how this site is paid.