California Air Permits

Air permits & authorizations

• Authority to Construct (ATC)

  Minor NSR

  Issued by air districts to let an owner or operator build, modify, or relocate equipment; can allow operation until a Permit to Operate is issued. District New Source Review rules apply, including BACT/LAER and offsets where emissions increases exceed district thresholds.

  District NSR rules (SIP-approved)Official page

• Permit to Operate (PTO)

  State Operating

  Issued by air districts once ATC requirements are met; subject to renewal and fees.

  Cal. Health & Safety Code § 42301Official page

• District permit exemptions

  Exemption

  Each district maintains its own list of equipment exempt from permits in its rules. Check the district's rulebook.

  Official page

Major NSR (PSD & nonattainment)

• PSD

  PSD

  Most districts run SIP-approved PSD programs; South Coast AQMD runs PSD under EPA delegation (SIP-approved for GHG only). For four districts (Mendocino, North Coast, Northern Sonoma, Sacramento Metro), EPA retains authority for certain project types such as resource recovery facilities (40 CFR 52.270).

  District PSD rules; 40 CFR 52.270Official page

• Nonattainment NSR

  Nonattainment NSR

  District NSR rules require offsets and LAER for major sources and modifications in nonattainment areas; California has extensive ozone and PM nonattainment areas.

  District NSR rules (SIP-approved)Official page

Title V operating permits

• Title V Operating Permit

  Title V

  Issued by districts with EPA-approved Title V programs (most approved in 2003 or 2012). Submitted to EPA for review before issuance (40 CFR 70.8); renewed at least every five years.

  40 CFR Part 70; district Title V rulesOfficial page

Oil & Gas

CARB's Oil and Gas Methane Regulation (17 CCR §§ 95665-95677, amended version effective April 1, 2024) sets greenhouse gas standards for crude oil and natural gas facilities, implemented with air districts through memoranda of agreement. District permits (ATC/PTO) and district oil and gas rules also apply.

• Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards for Crude Oil and Natural Gas Facilities

  Other

  Covers onshore/offshore production, separation and storage, underground storage, gathering and boosting, processing plants, and transmission compressor stations. Requirements include separator and tank vapor collection, compressor seal/rod packing, pneumatic controllers and pumps, liquids unloading, well casing vents, underground storage monitoring, and LDAR.

  17 CCR §§ 95665-95677Official page

• CARB-district Oil and Gas Regulation MOAs

  Other

  Agreements dividing implementation and enforcement of the methane regulation between CARB and districts (e.g., San Joaquin Valley).

  Official page

State air regulations

• Cal. Health & Safety Code § 42300 et seq.District permit systems (ATC/PTO); § 42301 permit requirements
• Cal. Health & Safety Code §§ 39620, 41500CARB permitting assistance and oversight authority
• 17 CCR §§ 95665-95677Oil and Gas Methane Regulation
• Local district rulesCurrent Air District Rules (CARB index)
• 40 CFR 52.220 et seq.EPA-approved California SIP (district regulations)

Forms

• Permit forms are issued by each district; start from CARB's district map

Guidance

• CARB Stationary Source Permitting: Community Questions
• EPA: Clean Air Act Permitting in California
• EPA Region 9 PSD SIP Approval and Delegation Status
• EPA Region 9 Title V Program Evaluations (CA)

Compliance

State compliance obligations (reporting, emissions inventory, testing) are being indexed. Use the Compliance dashboard preview to see how they will be tracked.

Sources

• EPA: Clean Air Act Permitting in California
• EPA Region 9 Delegation and PSD SIP Approval Status
• CARB Stationary Source Permitting Q&A
• CARB Oil and Gas Methane Regulation (unofficial text)