FAQ
Questions and answers
Short answers to the questions people ask most. If yours is not here, call and ask the cleanup company directly.
Lines answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Common questions
Who cleans up after a death or a crime in Stockton?
Not police, the city or the medical examiner. Once the scene is released, cleanup is up to the property owner or family, who usually hire a trauma scene cleanup company registered with the California Department of Public Health.
Is the line answered at night and on weekends?
Yes. The line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Is this a cleanup company?
No. It is a referral service. Your call is connected with an independent cleanup company that serves your area.
How much does biohazard cleanup cost?
It depends on how far the contamination spread, the materials involved, the waste volume and whether rebuilding is needed. The company gives you its price after it sees the space. See who pays.
Does homeowner insurance cover it?
Sometimes. Policies differ, so ask your insurer before work starts. This site cannot tell you what your policy covers.
Can CalVCB pay for crime scene cleanup?
If a crime happened in a residence or vehicle, CalVCB may reimburse cleanup by a CDPH-registered practitioner, within its limits. See CalVCB.
Who investigates deaths in San Joaquin County?
The San Joaquin County Office of the Medical Examiner, which looks into sudden or unexplained deaths in the county.
How do I know a company is registered?
Ask for its registration and compare it with CDPH's list on the Trauma Scene Waste Management Practitioners page.
Can I stay in the house during the cleanup?
Often, in another part of the house, if the work area is sealed off. Many families prefer to stay elsewhere. Ask the company.
Which areas are covered?
Stockton and nearby San Joaquin County towns, including Lodi, Manteca, Tracy, Lathrop and Ripon. See service areas.
Do you handle hoarding cleanups?
Where there are biohazards such as animal or human waste, needles or spoiled food. See hoarding with biohazards.
I am not coping. Who can I talk to?
Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, at any hour.
Plain answers
Guides for families and property owners
- Who pays for biohazard cleanupCalVCB, homeowner and renter insurance, landlords and estates, in plain terms.
- After a death at home: what happens nextThe medical examiner, the funeral home, the scene and the cleanup, step by step.
- For landlords and property managersA death, a crime or needles in a rental unit: what to do and what to keep.
- Who is allowed to clean a crime scene in CaliforniaThe Trauma Scene Waste Management Act and the state's list of registered companies.
- How this referral service worksWho answers, what they ask, and what this site is and is not.
When you are ready
One call to a cleanup company that serves Stockton
Say what happened, where, and roughly when. The company will ask a few questions, explain what the work involves and arrange a visit if you want one.
Talk to a biohazard cleanup company
Your call is connected with an independent cleanup company that works in Stockton and San Joaquin County. You can ask questions first. There is no obligation to book.
Call (209) 555-0161Lines answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Calls may be recorded. Read the referral disclosure and the privacy policy.