Phase 1 ESA Cost by State: 2026 Data
A Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment costs $2,000 to $4,500 nationally in 2026 for a standard commercial parcel, with a reported national average of $3,250. The number moves by state, from about $1,600 in the lowest-cost states to over $6,500 in the highest, and moves further with property type and history. This page compiles those figures from published industry cost guides into one dataset, with every source cited below.
National baseline, standard commercial parcel
$2,000–$4,500 average $3,250 | source: Apprais.ai, Phase 1 ESA Cost 2026: 50-State Guide
Cross-checked against A3 Environmental ($2,200-$4,000) and GEO Forward ($1,900-$3,200 typical, up to $6,500 for large or complex sites). See methodology below.
Highest and lowest cost states
Highest premium vs. national baseline
- Hawaii: +45% ($2,900-$6,525)
- New York: +40% ($2,800-$6,300)
- California: +35% ($2,700-$6,075)
- District of Columbia: +35% ($2,700-$6,075)
- Alaska: +30% ($2,600-$5,850)
Lowest cost vs. national baseline
- Arkansas: -20% ($1,600-$3,600)
- Mississippi: -20% ($1,600-$3,600)
- West Virginia: -20% ($1,600-$3,600)
- Alabama: -15% ($1,700-$3,825)
- Indiana: -15% ($1,700-$3,825)
Standard turnaround time
Standard turnaround is 2 to 4 weeks from authorization to final report delivery. 20 to 30 calendar days from authorization to final report delivery is the typical range reported across environmental consulting firms. Rush service is available from most firms in 5 to 10 business days. Rush service is available from most firms for a premium, commonly cited at 25% to 40% above standard pricing. A completed report is valid for 180 days from the site inspection date under ASTM E1527-21, extendable to a year if certain components are updated. (Source: RSB Environmental, Phase 1 ESA Timeline.)
Cost premiums by property type
These premiums apply on top of a standard commercial parcel's baseline cost, reflecting the extra research and elevated contamination-risk profile of these property categories.
| Property type | Typical premium |
|---|---|
| Junkyard or salvage yard | +60% |
| Gas station or former fuel site | +50% |
| Dry cleaner (past or present) | +40% |
| Manufacturing facility | +40% |
| Shooting range | +35% |
| Marina or boat storage | +35% |
| Auto repair or body shop | +30% |
| Funeral home | +30% |
Source: Apprais.ai, Phase 1 ESA Cost 2026: 50-State Guide.
Full state-by-state cost table
All 50 states plus DC. Adjustment is versus the $2,000-$4,500 national baseline.
| State | Adjustment | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | -15% | $1,700–$3,825 |
| Alaska | +30% | $2,600–$5,850 |
| Arizona | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Arkansas | -20% | $1,600–$3,600 |
| California | +35% | $2,700–$6,075 |
| Colorado | +15% | $2,300–$5,175 |
| Connecticut | +25% | $2,500–$5,625 |
| Delaware | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| District of Columbia | +35% | $2,700–$6,075 |
| Florida | +5% | $2,100–$4,725 |
| Georgia | -5% | $1,900–$4,275 |
| Hawaii | +45% | $2,900–$6,525 |
| Idaho | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Illinois | +10% | $2,200–$4,950 |
| Indiana | -15% | $1,700–$3,825 |
| Iowa | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Kansas | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Kentucky | -15% | $1,700–$3,825 |
| Louisiana | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Maine | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Maryland | +20% | $2,400–$5,400 |
| Massachusetts | +30% | $2,600–$5,850 |
| Michigan | -10% | $1,800–$4,050 |
| Minnesota | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Mississippi | -20% | $1,600–$3,600 |
| Missouri | -15% | $1,700–$3,825 |
| Montana | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Nebraska | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Nevada | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| New Hampshire | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| New Jersey | +30% | $2,600–$5,850 |
| New Mexico | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| New York | +40% | $2,800–$6,300 |
| North Carolina | -5% | $1,900–$4,275 |
| North Dakota | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Ohio | -10% | $1,800–$4,050 |
| Oklahoma | -15% | $1,700–$3,825 |
| Oregon | +15% | $2,300–$5,175 |
| Pennsylvania | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Rhode Island | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| South Carolina | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| South Dakota | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Tennessee | -10% | $1,800–$4,050 |
| Texas | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Utah | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Vermont | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Virginia | +10% | $2,200–$4,950 |
| Washington | +20% | $2,400–$5,400 |
| West Virginia | -20% | $1,600–$3,600 |
| Wisconsin | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Wyoming | baseline | $2,000–$4,500 |
Methodology
This dataset is compiled, not independently measured. It aggregates figures published by environmental consulting firms and industry cost guides, primarily the 50-state cost table published by Apprais.ai, cross- checked against three additional independent sources for the national range and turnaround figures. It is not a directory convenience sample and does not draw on our own transaction data. Every figure was fetched directly from its source on 2026-07-18 and is re-checked when this page is refreshed. State-level adjustments are industry estimates reflecting consultant demand, regulatory database density, and market competition, not a government or regulatory rate schedule.
Sources:
- Apprais.ai, Phase 1 ESA Cost 2026: 50-State Guide
- A3 Environmental Consultants, Phase 1 ESA cost guide
- GEO Forward, Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Cost
- CIP Texas, Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Cost in Texas
- RSB Environmental, Phase 1 ESA Timeline
How to cite this data
"Phase 1 ESA Cost by State, 2026," Phase 1 ESA Quotes, https://phase1esaquotes.com/cost-data/, accessed 2026-07-18. A machine-readable version of the full table is available as JSON.