If your project sits in a City of Los Angeles Methane Zone or Methane Buffer Zone, LADBS won't issue your building permit until methane test results are on file. Here's what methane testing costs with GeoTed, what's included, and how we turn reports around in 48 hours so plan check doesn't stall.
Methane Testing Pricing at a Glance
- Routine ADU or small addition: starting at $2,500. A typical single-lot ADU in a methane or buffer zone, with a standard probe layout and an LADBS-ready report.
- Larger projects: up to about $5,500. New single-family homes, small multifamily buildings, larger lots that need more test locations, or sites that call for deeper or additional testing.
- 48-hour report turnaround available. Your report delivered within 48 hours of completing field testing, ready to submit to LADBS.
Every project gets a written fixed-fee proposal before any work starts, so you know exactly what you're paying.
What Drives the Price
- Building footprint and lot size. Larger footprints need more test locations under the LADBS site testing standards.
- Depth of testing. A shallow soil gas test costs less than a deeper investigation with probes at multiple depths.
- Gas pressure and lab work. Some sites need additional pressure readings or laboratory confirmation of field results.
- Site access. Coring through hardscape, tight side yards, or limited equipment access add field time.
- Site history. Properties near abandoned oil wells or former fill and landfill areas may need more background research.
What's Included
- Records review. We confirm the methane zone designation and check oil well records and site history before mobilizing.
- Field testing. We install soil gas probes at the required locations and depths and measure methane concentration and gas pressure with calibrated equipment.
- LADBS-ready report. Results are presented in the format LADBS needs to assign your Site Design Level, signed and stamped by a California Certified Engineering Geologist.
- Design team coordination. We share results with your architect, structural engineer, and mitigation designer so the methane requirements get built into the plans.
48-Hour Turnaround for LADBS
Methane testing is often the last item holding up a permit. We typically schedule field work within a few days of authorization, and when your schedule is tight we can deliver the stamped report within 48 hours of finishing field testing. That's especially useful when a plan check correction sheet is the only thing between you and permit issuance.
Why It Pays to Test Early
Your Site Design Level determines what mitigation goes under the slab, from a membrane and passive venting up to active systems and gas detection. Those requirements affect your foundation and slab design, so knowing the result before plans are finalized avoids costly redesigns. For more background on methane zones and the testing process, see our guide to methane testing in the City of Los Angeles.
Get a Quote
Send us the property address, project type (ADU, addition, new home, etc.), the approximate building footprint, and plans if you have them. We'll confirm the LADBS requirements and send a fixed-fee proposal, usually the same day. Contact GeoTed to get started.
Prices shown are typical ranges for planning purposes. Your final fee depends on site conditions and LADBS requirements and is confirmed in a written proposal.
