NAICS Code for Environmental Services

If you run an environmental services business and need your NAICS code, here is your answer right away.

The primary NAICS code for environmental consulting and assessment services is 541620, classified under Environmental Consulting Services in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector. However, “environmental services” is a broad umbrella term. The right code for your business depends on whether you provide consulting, physical cleanup, or waste management. This page covers the relevant codes so you can identify the one that fits.

Field	Details
NAICS Code	541620
Industry Title	Environmental Consulting Services
Sector	54 (Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services)
Industry Group	5416
Last Updated	2022 NAICS Edition (Next NAICS Edition will come in 2027)

What Does NAICS Code 541620 Cover?

According to the official 2022 NAICS data, code 541620 covers establishments primarily engaged in providing environmental consulting services, including environmental impact assessments, environmental remediation planning, and regulatory compliance consulting.

In simple terms, this code applies to any business whose main activity is advising, testing, or planning for environmental compliance, rather than performing the physical labor of cleaning up a site. This includes:

Environmental impact assessments and planning
Regulatory compliance consulting for EPA and state environmental laws
Air quality, water quality, and soil testing and analysis
Hazardous material management planning
Environmental remediation planning and design (but not the physical remediation itself)
Natural resource management and conservation planning

The important distinction here is consulting and testing. This code covers the “brain power” and assessment side of the environmental industry, not the heavy machinery or physical waste removal side.

Does My Environmental Services Business Qualify for Code 541620?

Your business qualifies for NAICS code 541620 if:

You provide environmental consulting, auditing, or compliance advice to other businesses
Your main source of revenue comes from testing soil, water, or air samples and writing reports
You plan and design environmental remediation projects but hire subcontractors to do the physical work
Your firm operates as a dedicated environmental assessment or consulting practice

Your business may not qualify if:

You physically clean up polluted soil or groundwater, which falls under 562910 (Remediation Services) instead
You collect, treat, or dispose of hazardous waste, which falls under 562212 (Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal) instead
You operate a garbage or recycling collection route, which falls under 562111 (Solid Waste Collection) instead
You manufacture environmental equipment like air scrubbers or water filters, which falls under manufacturing codes

When your business sits between two codes, always classify based on whichever activity generates the most revenue.

Where Will You Need This Code?

Your NAICS code appears in more places than most business owners expect. Here is where code 541620 (or your specific environmental code) will be required:

Federal Contracting via SAM.gov. Environmental services are heavily tied to government work. If you want to bid on EPA contracts, Department of Energy grants, or local government environmental assessments, you must be registered on SAM.gov under the exact code that matches your service.
SBA Loan Applications. The Small Business Administration requires your NAICS code on all loan applications. Lenders use it to assess your industry risk profile and determine eligibility for specific programs.
Business Insurance. Insurance providers use your NAICS code to classify your business type and calculate your professional liability (Errors & Omissions) and pollution liability premium rates. Environmental consultants carry high liability risk for the advice they give.
Business Registration. Most state and local business registration portals ask for your NAICS code when you set up a new business entity for the first time.
Tax Filings and Compliance. Federal and state tax agencies use NAICS codes to categorize businesses for statistical reporting and to identify eligibility for green energy or environmental tax incentives.
Business Bank Accounts. Many banks ask for your NAICS code when opening a business account to ensure your business is classified properly from day one.

541620 in the NAICS Hierarchy

Every NAICS code sits inside a structured hierarchy. Here is exactly where 541620 fits:

Level	Code	Title
Sector	54	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Subsector	541	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Industry Group	5416	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
NAICS Industry	54162	Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
National Industry	541620	Environmental Consulting Services

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NAICS code for environmental remediation and cleanup?

If your business uses heavy equipment to physically remove contaminated soil, pump and treat groundwater, or perform asbestos abatement, your code is 562910 (Remediation Services). This falls under the Administrative and Waste Management sector, not the professional consulting sector.

What if my business does both consulting and physical remediation?

You must classify your business under the NAICS code that represents the majority of your total revenue. If 60% of your income comes from writing environmental reports and 40% comes from operating excavators on a cleanup site, you are legally required to use the Environmental Consulting Services code (541620).

Is there a single catch-all NAICS code for all environmental services?

No. Because the risks and operational structures of an environmental consultant, a hazardous waste hauler, and a soil cleanup crew are drastically different, the government breaks them down into highly specific codes across different sectors (Sector 54 for consulting, Sector 56 for waste and remediation). You must identify the specific service you provide.

How do NAICS codes affect environmental insurance premiums?

Insurance underwriters rely heavily on your NAICS code to price your Pollution Liability and Professional Liability insurance. A consultant (541620) is primarily at risk for giving bad advice or missing a contaminant in a report. A remediation contractor (562910) is at risk for physical property damage or worker exposure. Using the wrong code will result in inaccurate insurance pricing.

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