What Level of Environmental Assessment Is Right for My SBA Deal?
Free SBA checker. Pick the property's use and enter the loan amount — get your answer in seconds, before you order anything.
Checked against SOP 50 10 8.1 (effective October 1, 2026) — the same rule book behind every report we deliver. This tells you what level of review SBA requires. It does not say whether the property is contaminated, safe, or clean.
Four Special-Use Rules That Always Apply
Straight from the SOP, no matter what code you picked — not all four carry the same requirement; each line below says which:
One Carve-Out That Goes the Other Way
SBA guidance: SOP 50 10 8.1, effective October 1, 2026.
What If My Deal Isn't an SBA Deal?
Good question. The answer above is an SBA answer — it is computed from SOP 50 10 8.1, which governs 7(a) and 504 lending and nothing else. On a conventional deal those rules carry no authority, and your choices are less narrow.
The SOP is still a good guideline even then — it is specific and well-tested about which property uses warrant a closer look. But what actually governs is your lender's own policy, which may be narrower or broader. Check with your lender first. Most will accept either an RSRA done to SBA SOP requirements or a Phase I ESA done to the ASTM E1527-21 standard. We can provide either one.
Read the full answer for non-SBA deals — including the one distinction that doesn't depend on your lender's preference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this checker tell me?
What level of review SBA SOP 50 10 8.1 (effective October 1, 2026) requires for this deal -- nothing extra, an Environmental Questionnaire, an RSRA, or a Phase I.
Does it tell me if the property is contaminated?
No. It is not legal or environmental advice for your specific situation, and it does not say whether the property is contaminated, safe, or clean.
Do I need to know the NAICS code?
No -- type what the business does and pick every match that applies, or pick "None of these / something else" if nothing fits.
Are there uses that always require a Phase I, no matter the code?
Yes -- four special-use rules apply no matter what code you pick, straight from the SOP. Not all four carry the same requirement; each one below says which. There is also one carve-out that goes the other way -- see "car wash only" below the list.
What if the loan is $250,000 or less?
The SOP does not require more than an Environmental Questionnaire at this loan amount. Many lenders still order our RSRA EZ-Screen as a fast, low-cost way to document a clean record for the file.