Permits
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).
Change of Name or Ownership
Please complete when the facility’s contact information has changed to ensure the correct person is notified for any future permit or program updates. No fee is required for updates but please allow a few days from the District to make any changes.
Stationary Sources & Stationary Engine -Facility Contact Update FormGas Dispense Facility - Facility Contact Update FormAir District General Permits
If you plan to build a gasoline station, alter the vapor recovery equipment, or alter or upgrade the dispensing or storage equipment in any way, then you might need to first submit an Authority to Construct form. Download the Authority to Construct form in the Forms page.
With only a few exceptions, the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District requires all gasoline dispensing facilities, both retail and non-retail, to be equipped with a Phase I and Phase II vapor recovery system.
Visit our Vapor Recovery page for additional infomation.
If you plan to install or operate any kind of diesel fired stationary or portable engine greater than 50 horsepower within the 3 counties of this Air District, then you will need to obtain an Air Pollution permit. If you plan to install or operate any kind of stationary or portable engine that does NOT use diesel, then PLEASE call the Air District and speak with one of our permitting specialists. Visit our Forms page to download the forms: (1) Instructions for Permit Applications, (2) Permit Application Form, and (3) Internal Combustion Engine Supplemental Form.
Emergency Generator Reference: A quick and simple PDF that summarizes generator district regulation.
Northern Sierra Emergency Generator Handout
Air Toxic Control Measure: The Air Resources Board adopted an air toxic control measure (ATCM) for stationary diesel engines. Each local air district implements the ATCM.
Please visit our Portable Equipment FAQ and Portable Equipment Permitting & Registration for more information.
For questions regarding Air Pollution permits for the purposes of residential or non-residential open burning, please visit our Open Outdoor Burning page.
If you plan to engage in any kind of soil cleanup where there is any potential for contaminants to be emitted into the air, however minute they may be, then you will probably need an Air Pollution permit. Visit our Forms page to download the form: Soil Vapor Extraction.
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
If you plan to install or operate any kind of stationary source or device that emits any air pollutants whatsoever within the 3 counties of this Air District, then you will probably need to obtain an Air Pollution permit. Visit our Forms page to download the forms: (1) Permit Application and (2) Instructions for Permit Applications.
Special Requirements:
Asphalt Batch Plant Permit RequirementsSand & Gravel Permit Requirements
Portable Equipment are required to have either a District Permit to Operate or a California Air Resources Board (ARB) Statewide Portable Equipment Registration. Information on District permitting and the ARB Registration program can be found on the Portable Equipment Permitting page.
