Can you put coal tar sealer on an asphalt driveway? In Minnesota, the law says no. Minnesota Statutes section 116.202 bars applying coal tar sealant products on asphalt-paved surfaces, so the label is the first thing to check.
Coal tar sealant contains coal tar or coal tar pitch, and USGS links coal-tar-based sealcoat to urban PAH contamination. Asphalt emulsion sealers are built on asphalt instead, and the AsPen data sheet says its product has no coal tar. Minnesota bars applying coal tar sealant to asphalt-paved surfaces. Asphalt is not entirely PAH-free, so check every label.
This guide compares what each sealer type contains, where the rules apply, and how to read a label. For the gallon count, the Driveway Sealcoat Calculator converts your label coverage into gallons and pails.
What Coal Tar Sealcoat Contains and Why It Draws Scrutiny
Coal tar sealcoat is a surface sealer that contains coal tar or coal tar pitch. Minnesota defines a coal tar sealant product as a surface applied sealing product that contains coal tar, coal tar pitch, coal tar pitch volatiles, or one of three listed CAS numbers.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) describes coal-tar-based sealcoat as “a major source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination in urban areas” in Fact Sheet 2011-3010. The same abstract says several PAHs are suspected human carcinogens and are toxic to aquatic life.
Only the USGS abstract was read for this article. The report body, with its regional and lake findings, is not covered here, and no concentration figures are stated.
What an Asphalt Emulsion Sealer Contains
An asphalt emulsion sealer is built on asphalt. The SealMaster AsPen Surface Seal data sheet describes its product as a clay-stabilized, mineral filled asphalt emulsion surface sealer. The maker states that AsPen contains no cutbacks, solvents, flammables, or coal tar, and less than 10 g/l of VOC, which is under 1 percent.
These are the manufacturer’s own statements, and no independent test of AsPen was read for this article. Other asphalt emulsion products may differ, so check the label of the product you buy.
| Attribute | Coal tar sealcoat | Asphalt emulsion (SealMaster AsPen data sheet) |
|---|---|---|
| Main binder | Coal tar, coal tar pitch, or coal tar pitch volatiles (statute definition) | Asphalt emulsion with clay and mineral filler |
| Coal tar content | Contains coal tar, by definition | None, per the manufacturer |
| VOC | Not stated in the sources read | Less than 10 g/l (under 1 percent), per the manufacturer |
| PAH notes | USGS abstract: a major urban PAH source; several PAHs suspected human carcinogens | No PAH statement in the parts of the sheet used here |
| Minnesota status on asphalt | Application barred; sale of products marketed for asphalt barred | Not a coal tar sealant product, as the maker describes it |
Asphalt is not entirely PAH-free. A 2022 safety data sheet from another sealer maker notes trace levels of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PNAs) in asphalt emissions. That is a different product, but it shows why an asphalt label still needs a check.
Where Coal Tar Sealant Is Restricted
Minnesota bars applying coal tar sealant to asphalt-paved surfaces, under Minnesota Statutes section 116.202. Subdivision 2 says a person shall not apply coal tar sealant products on asphalt-paved surfaces. Subdivision 3 bars the sale of a product formulated or marketed for application on asphalt-paved surfaces.
Subdivision 4 allows exemptions only for research or alternative-technology development. The statute’s history lists 2013 c 137 art 2 s 17, and the text gives no effective date, so this article does not state a start date.
The flow below is a question for buyers, not a legal rule.
Other places may restrict coal tar sealer too. Search results mentioned other local and state actions, but the primary texts were not read, so this article does not list them. Check your city and state rules before you buy.
How to Check a Label for Coal Tar
Check the ingredient list and the safety data sheet, not the product name on the pail. The statute names coal tar terms and three CAS numbers, so match the label against both lists.
- Search the ingredients for coal tar, coal tar pitch, or coal tar pitch volatiles.
- Search the safety data sheet for CAS numbers 65996-93-2, 65996-89-6, and 8007-45-2.
- Check every product in the line. A 2022 safety data sheet from another maker lists coal tar primers among its grades.
- Ask the seller or maker in writing whether the product you want contains coal tar.
A missing term is a good sign, not proof. Confirm with the maker and your local rules before you buy.
How Coverage and Waste Set the Pail Count
Pails equal total gallons divided by five, rounded up, and the gallon total itself is not rounded. The tool works out gallons as area divided by label coverage, times coats, times one plus the waste fraction.
The tool’s Quick Answer says gallons round up too, but its output shows 17.6 gal unrounded. Only the pail count rounds up. Take a 20 ft by 40 ft driveway, or 800 sq ft, with label coverage of 100 sq ft per gallon, 2 coats and 10 percent waste.
- Area. 20 ft x 40 ft = 800 sq ft.
- Gallons per coat. 800 / 100 sq ft per gal = 8.00 gal per coat.
- All coats. 8.00 x 2 coats = 16.00 gal.
- Waste. 16.00 x 1.10 = 17.60 gal.
- Pails. 17.60 / 5 = 3.52, rounded up to 4 pails.
The result matches the tool’s output of 17.6 gallons and 4 pails.
Coverage drives the result. The AsPen data sheet claims coverage of 75 to 115 square feet per gallon, which is a manufacturer figure. At 75 sq ft per gallon, the same 800 sq ft with 2 coats and 10 percent waste needs about 23.5 gallons, or 5 pails.
Enter the coverage from the label of the product you buy. The coverage box can show 100 on load, even though the tool page says there is no default, so confirm it before you read the result.
Enter your length, width, label coverage, coats and waste in the gallons and pails tool to get your gallons and pails.
FAQs About Coal Tar and Asphalt Sealers
Can you put coal tar sealer on an asphalt driveway in Minnesota?
No. Minnesota Statutes section 116.202 bars applying coal tar sealant products on asphalt-paved surfaces. It also bars selling products formulated or marketed for asphalt surfaces.
Does an asphalt emulsion sealer contain coal tar?
The AsPen data sheet from SealMaster says its product contains no coal tar. That is the manufacturer’s own statement, and it does not prove every asphalt emulsion sealer is coal-tar-free. Check each label.
Is asphalt emulsion sealer free of PAHs?
Not entirely. A 2022 safety data sheet from another sealer maker notes trace levels of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PNAs) in asphalt emissions. Ask for the safety data sheet of the product you buy.
Which CAS numbers identify coal tar sealant on a label?
Minnesota’s statute lists CAS numbers 65996-93-2, 65996-89-6, and 8007-45-2. It also names coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles. Match these terms against the ingredients and safety data sheet.
Can one sealer line include both coal tar and asphalt products?
Yes, it can. One 2022 safety data sheet from another maker lists coal tar primers among its grades. Check the exact product and any primer you buy, because a line can mix products.
Does the Minnesota rule apply in other states?
No. The statute is Minnesota law. Other states and cities may restrict coal tar sealant too, but this article did not read their rules, so check local requirements before you buy.
Why does the calculator show 4 pails when the total is 17.6 gallons?
Pails equal gallons divided by five, rounded up. 17.6 divided by 5 is 3.52, so the count is 4 pails. The gallon total is shown unrounded.
Sources and Further Reading
References Used in This Article
- Office of the Revisor of Statutes, Minnesota Statutes 116.202, Coal Tar Sealant; Use and Sale Prohibited, accessed 2026-11-13. Read in full.
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fact Sheet 2011-3010, Coal-Tar-Based Sealcoat and PAHs (Mahler and Van Metre), abstract page, accessed 2026-11-13. Abstract only; the report body was not read.
- SealMaster, AsPen Surface Seal data sheet (manufacturer), accessed 2026-11-13. Manufacturer statements, not independently tested.
This article is general information, not legal advice. The restriction described here is Minnesota’s statute as read; other places differ, so check your local rules and the sealer’s safety data sheet before you buy. Reviewed for accuracy by Prof. Dr. Khalil Mudassar, PhD. Last updated 2026-11-13.
Shakeel Muzaffar is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief, with over 15 years of experience in digital publishing and online tool development. He oversees editorial quality and formula verification to ensure accurate, practical, and easy-to-use calculators.