As part of the Air District’s responsibility to meet state and federal clean air standards, the District adopts rules and issues permits that require compliance with these standards. Permits allow the District to specify operating conditions consistent with our countywide clean air strategy and state air toxics requirements. 

Any device or contrivance that may be a source of air contaminants, or is intended to control or mitigate those air contaminants, has the potential to require a Permit to Operate from the Air District. A Permit to Operate is based on the Air District Rules 401 and Rule 501, and and Health & Safety Code: Section 42300).

Permits provide information on the equipment in use and the air pollution devices used to control the air pollution caused through operations. Both large and small businesses need an Air District permit before they construct, change, replace, or operate any equipment and process that could cause air pollution including any equipment designed to reduce air pollution. Permits are also required if an existing business transfers ownership, relocates, or otherwise changes their operation.

The District’s permitting program provides a procedure for the review of new sources of air pollution, and the modification and operation of existing sources, through engineering evaluations and the issuance of permits. For any equipment or process that emits or controls the emission of air contaminants to the atmosphere, permits shall be obtained prior to beginning construction, and prior to a modification, replacement, or relocation of such equipment. (California Health and Safety Code, Chapter 4, Article 1, 42300). 

Information to Have Readily Available

• Full name and contact information of owner/operator
• Project/business location
• Type and description of business
• Projected listing of equipment that will be used in normal operations
• Projected listings and amounts of materials and chemicals to be used including liquids, solids and gases

Some of the businesses required to hold permits are:

• Asphalt Batch Plant 
• Boilers 
• Carbonizer/ACI 
• Coating Operations 
• Concrete Batch Plant
• Crematory 
• Engines (please reference Internal Combustion Engine) 
• Gas Dispensing Facility (please reference Vapor Recover) 
• Landfill 
• Logging 
• Sand and Gravel Batch Plant 
• Others potentially not listed