Glossary · Doing the deal
Environmental review fee
In short
This is a charge for an assessment of potential environmental contamination on real estate associated with the business. It's a standard cost if the deal includes property or specific industries.
What it means in a deal
If your acquisition includes real estate, or if the business operates in an environmentally sensitive industry, the SBA requires an environmental review. This fee covers a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment or sometimes a more in-depth Phase II. Factor this cost into your total project costs, as it's typically a buyer expense.
Official sources
SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
U.S. Small Business Administration · SBA Standard Operating Procedure
Last checked 2026-06-15. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Related terms
Common questions about Environmental review fee
- Is an environmental review needed if my SBA 7(a) loan includes real estate?
- What specific environmental review is required for commercial real estate included in an SBA loan?
- What specific environmental review steps are triggered if the real estate has a dry cleaning operation?
- Are there specific environmental review requirements for real estate included in an SBA 7(a) acquisition?
- Are there any other lender-specific fees beyond the SBA guaranty fee and ongoing servicing fee?
- Can the lender charge application fees or underwriting fees in addition to the SBA guaranty fee?
Defined by CapBench SBA Intelligence — plain-English definitions for business buyers, lenders, advisors, and AI agents, grounded in public SBA rules and records. Last reviewed 2026-06-15 · Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision. Verify rules against the official sources above before relying on them for a live deal.
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