The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District's (APCD) mission is to protect public health and welfare from the adverse effects of air pollution by identifying air pollution problems and developing comprehensive programs to achieve and maintain State and federal clean air standards.

Meeting clean air standards requires effort from all participants in the community, especially businesses.

APCD's air pollution permit system is one way APCD and businesses can work together to clean our air and protect public health and welfare. APCD air pollution permits help to ensure that equipment and processes that emit air pollutants comply with all applicable air pollution regulations.

Helpful Hint: Projects that require discretionary land use permits from the County of Ventura may also need APCD permits before they operate. To avoid project delays, applicants should contact the APCD Engineering Division EARLY in the County of Ventura’s discretionary permit process to determine if APCD permits are required.

Additionally, State law requires applicants for non-residential building permits or Certificates of Occupancy to inform the APCD about new or modified sources of air pollution in order to determine if they also need APCD permits. To comply with this requirement, please complete APCD’s AB3205 questionnaire and submit it to the APCD. Residential projects do not need air pollution permits.

You can learn more about APCD permits in the FAQs and in the Brochure sections below. You can also contact the APCD Engineering Division by calling (805) 303-3684, or visit the APCD website by clicking on the Department Home link at the top of the page.

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Forms

The forms listed below are part of APCD's air pollution process. If you do not know which forms you will need, or need additional information, please contact the APCD Engineering Division by telephone at (805) 303-3684, or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Before submitting any of the forms below, all applicants should schedule a pre-submittal meeting with the APCD Engineering Division by calling (805) 303-3684. At the pre-submittal meeting, you can speak with APCD staff, who can explain the permit application requirements and procedures. By scheduling a pre-submittal meeting, you can save considerable time and avoid permit processing delays.

Cover Forms

• Authority to Construct or Permit to Operate without Authority to Construct (with instructions)
  This form is for projects that need or failed to obtain a required Authority to Construct.

Special Cover Forms

• Permit to Operate - Authority to Construct Previously Issued (with instructions)
  This form is for projects that have an Authority to Construct and are applying for a Permit to Operate.
  
  
  
• Administrative Change (with instructions)
  This form is to transfer ownership of a Permit to Operate for an existing facility with no proposed changes to equipment, processes, or air pollution permit conditions, or for other administrative changes such as name changes or address changes.

Special Forms

• Certification of Statewide Compliance Form
  This form is to certify that all major sources owned or operated by permit applicants in California are in compliance with all applicable emission limits and standards.
  
  
  
• Equipment Summary Instructions
  These instructions are for equipment and processes that require an APCD air pollution permit but for which the APCD does not have specific supplementary permit application forms.

Supplementary Forms

• Abrasive Blasting Form (with instructions)
  This form is for unconfined abrasive blasting operations using compressed air as the propelling force, as well as compressor engines rated at 50 BHP or greater.
  
  
  
• Automotive Coating Form (with instructions)
  This form is for motor vehicle and mobile equipment coating operations, or any part of a vehicle or mobile equipment, whether or not it is attached.
  
  

• Auto - EPA 6H NESHAP Exemption Petition
  This form is for motor vehicle and mobile equipment coating operations, or any part of a vehicle or mobile equipment, whether or not it is attached.
  
  

• Auto - EPA 6H NESHAP Initial Compliance Notification
  This form is for motor vehicle and mobile equipment coating operations, or any part of a vehicle or mobile equipment, whether or not it is attached.
  
  
  

• Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters Form
  This form is for boilers, steam generators, and process heaters rated at 1 MMBTU/hr or greater.
  
  
  
• Charbroiler Form
  This form is for conveyorized charbroilers.
  
  
  
• Crude Oil Form (with instructions)
  This form is for oil storage tanks, oil wells, and crude oil loading racks.
  
  
  
• Degreaser Form (with instructions)
  This form is for solvent degreasers.
  
  
  
• Diesel or Gasoline Engine Form (with instructions)
  This form is for stationary gasoline or diesel-fueled internal combustion engines with a maximum continuous horsepower rating of 50 or greater.
  
  
  
• Diesel Engine Supplement Form (with instructions)
  This form is for stationary diesel-fueled internal combustion engines with a maximum continuous horsepower rating of 50 or greater. This form is in addition to Form Engine 102 for stationary gasoline or diesel engines and Form Engine304 for diesel-fired emergency engines.
  
  
  
• Emergency Engine Form (with instructions)
  This form is only for diesel-fired emergency standby engines installed and operated to provide electrical power or mechanical work during an emergency. This form cannot be used if the engine uses another fuel or serves some other function.
  
  
  
• Gasoline Dispensing Facility Form
  This form is only for gasoline dispensing facilities. Diesel fuel or waste oil tanks do not require air pollution permits.
  
  
  
• Glycol Dehydration Form
  
  
  
• Graphic Arts Form (with instructions)
  This form is for graphic arts operations including packaging gravure, publication gravure, flexographic printing, letterpress, ink jet printing, lithographic printing operation, or any coating or laminating operation manufacturing converted flexible packaging materials or the packaging industry. Do not use this form for screen printing operations.
  
  
  
• Natural Gas Engine Form (with instructions)
  This form is for natural gas-fired engines with a maximum continuous horsepower rating of 50 or greater.
  
  
  
• Oilfield Flare Form
  This form is for all flares rated at 1 MMBtu/hr or greater.
  
  
  
• Petroleum Dry Cleaner Application Form (with instructions)
  This form is only for petroleum dry cleaning operations. This form cannot be used for dry cleaning operations that use perchloroethylene.
  
  
  
• Screen Printing Form (with instructions)
  This form is for screen printing operations only. For all other graphic arts operations please refer to the Graphic Arts Form.
  
  
  
• Solvent Cleaning Form (with instructions)
  This form is for cleaning operations in which solvents are used to remove loosely held uncured adhesives, inks, coatings, resins, or other contaminants that include, but are not limited to, dirt, soil, lubricants, coolants, moisture, grease, and fingerprints from parts, products, tools, machinery, equipment, or general work areas.
  
  
  
• Surface Coating Form (with instructions)
  This form is for coatings that will be applied to aerospace components, including raw material, partial or completed fabricated parts, assembly parts, or completed units of any aircraft, helicopter, missile, or space vehicle, including mockups and prototypes. Do not use this form for automotive coating operations.
  
  
  
• Vapor Extraction System Application
  This form is for organic vapor extraction operations from soils contaminated with gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, and other soil contaminants.
  
  

Other Forms

• Questionnaire (AB3205)
  AB3205 (both pages) is to notify the APCD about your business or facility prior to issuance of your Certificate of Occupancy permit. State law (AB3205) prohibits a city or county agency from issuing a building permit or Certificate of Occupancy unless APCD air pollution requirements are met.
  
  
  
• Asbestos Notification Revision Form
  These form is only for demolition and asbestos abatement contractors, who must notify APCD of pending demolition or renovation activities involving asbestos.

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Brochures

The Ventura County APCD has a Permit Brochure to help answer your questions about the APCD’s permitting process. Please contact the APCD’s Engineering Division if you have project-specific questions. The Engineering Division can be reached by telephone at  (805) 303-3684, by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or by visiting the APCD website by clicking on the Department Home link at the top of the page.

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Guidelines & Standards

Ventura County Air Quality Assessment Guidelines (Guidelines)

The Guidelines provide lead agencies, consultants, and project applicants in Ventura County with a framework and uniform procedures for preparing air quality evaluations required by the California Environment Quality Act. They are not used for APCD air pollution permits. The Guidelines are available under the AQ Assessment section on the APCD’s website.

Ventura County Air Pollution Control District Rules and Regulations

The Ventura County APCD Rules and Regulations were adopted to improve air quality and protect the health and welfare of Ventura County residents. Each regulation is broken into individual rules. Many of the rules relate to specific types of operations or sources of pollution. They also contain a statement of conditions in which they apply, definitions of terms, requirements, and allowances or exemptions. There are also numerous administrative rules. The APCD Rules and Regulations are available by clicking here.

Helpful Hint: Air pollution laws periodically change. It is your responsibility to keep informed about rules that affect your facility or operation. Information regarding changes to regulations can be found on the Rule Development page of the APCD's website. The APCD also has a subscription service for those who wish to receive periodic notices of rule changes and publications. An order form for the publications and notices is available by clicking here.

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Laws/Ordinances

The APCD does not have any laws or ordinances that pertain specifically to discretionary land use permits. However, the APCD does have its own permit process. Air permits, generally required for stationary and non-vehicular equipment or operations that may emit air pollutants, ensure that such equipment and processes will be built and operated in compliance with APCD Rules and Regulations. You can learn more about APCD permits in the FAQs and in the Brochures sections above.

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Policies

The following policies are in regards to APCD air pollution permits. You can learn more about APCD permits in the FAQ and in the Brochures sections above. You can also contact the APCD Engineering Division by telephone at (805) 303-3684, by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or by visiting the APCD website by clicking on the Department Home link at the top of the page.

• Best Available Control Technology Implementation Permit Policy
  This policy establishes Best Available Control Technology requirements for facilities that require APCD permits.
  
  
  
• Vapor Extraction System Testing Policy
  This policy establishes the testing procedures for vapor extraction operations.

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Fees

The APCD charges the applicant fees for processing and filing permits. Based on the permit type, one or more of the following fees may apply:

• Application Filing Fee - Initial charge for each Authority to Construct or Permit to Operate.
• Application Processing Fee - In addition to the filing fee, the APCD charges the applicant a fee based on the amount of staff time required to review and process each Authority to Construct application or each Permit to Operate application for which an Authority to Construct was not obtained.
• Permit to Operate Fee - Invoiced when the District engineer approves the Permit to Operate.
• Annual Operating Fee - Invoiced annually based on the facility's permitted air pollutant emissions.

Helpful Hint: If you have questions about how and where to pay air pollution permit fees, or permit fees in general, please contact the APCD Engineering Division by telephone at (805) 303-3684 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also refer to APCD Rule 42 (Permit Fees)

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FAQs

What are air pollution permits?

Air pollution permits are written authorizations issued by air pollution control agencies, such as the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (APCD), to build, install, alter, replace, or operate equipment that emits or controls certain regulated air pollutants. The air pollutants regulated by the APCD are reactive organic compounds (ROC), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), fine particulate matter (PM10), oxides of sulfur (SOx), and certain toxic air pollutants. The purpose of air pollution permits is to help ensure that regulated air pollutants do not harm public health and welfare or hinder progress towards achieving and maintaining clean air.

What is the APCD permit program?

The APCD has a two-step permit program:

• Authority to Construct
• Permit to Operate

If you are a facility owner or operator in Ventura County, and will have air-polluting equipment, you will need an Authority to Construct before you can construct, install, or modify that equipment. This gives  APCD staff an opportunity to determine if your project will comply with applicable APCD rules.

Helpful Hint: Residential construction projects do not need air pollution permits.

After your project is completed, but before you can begin operations, you will need a Permit to Operate. A temporary Permit to Operate may be issued so that an emissions test or an on-site APCD inspection can be conducted while your facility is operating. Upon finding that your facility is complying with applicable APCD rules, APCD staff will issue you a Permit to Operate, which will have enforceable conditions to help ensure that your facility will continue to comply with those rules.

Do I need an air pollution permit?

You will need an air pollution permit if your business or facility has or will have equipment or processes that emit any regulated air pollutants. Air pollution permits are needed for the following actions:

• for new equipment or processes that may release regulated air pollutants;
• before modifying existing equipment;
• when a facility changes ownership;
• when equipment is relocated to a new address;
• when a change in the method of operation occurs at a facility; and
• when a facility wishes to modify an air permit condition, including changing the amount of air pollutants it is allowed to emit.

Helpful Hint: Air pollution permits issued by the APCD are not a part of the County of Ventura’s discretionary land use permit process. Moreover, you may need an air pollution permit from the APCD even if you do not need a land use permit from the County of Ventura or other governmental agency. If you need assistance in determining whether or not your project requires and APCD permit, please contact the APCD office.

What types of equipment and processes need air pollution permits?

Many types of equipment and processes used by businesses of all sizes require air pollution permits. Typical large businesses that require air pollution permits include oil production facilities, power plants, quarries, and cement operations. Smaller businesses include dry cleaners, gasoline service stations, auto body shops, and print shops.

For a detailed list of common equipment and processes that require air pollution permits, click here . Also, refer to APCD Rule 23 (Exemptions from Permit) for a detailed list of equipment and processes that do not require air pollution permits.

How do I get an air pollution permit?

You must submit the following, either in person or by mail, to the APCD:

• a cover letter with a detailed description of your business and the project you are proposing;
• a permit application cover form and required supplemental forms as required,
• a street map, a sketch of your facility layout, and a floor plan, and
• the application filing fee

We encourage all applicants to contact the APCD Engineering Division at (805) 303-3684 for a pre-application meeting. During the pre-application meeting, you can speak to APCD staff, who will explain the application requirements and procedures. Pre-application meetings can save you considerable time and help you to avoid permit processing delays.

Please note that it is up to you to show that your facility will operate in compliance with all applicable APCD rules. Moreover, you are subject to legal action if you operate equipment without a Permit to Operate.

You can download the necessary APCD permit forms by clicking here.

Helpful Hint: Projects that require discretionary land use permits from the County of Ventura may also need air pollution permits from the APCD before they begin operations. To avoid possible delays, you should contact the APCD Engineering Division early in your discretionary land use permit process with the County of Ventura to determine if you also need an air pollution permit.

How long will it take to get my air pollution permit?

Permit processing time ranges from 30 to 180 days, depending on the complexity of the application. You will be notified within 30 days after submission whether or not your application is complete. This notification will also include the name and telephone number of the APCD engineer who has been assigned to your application.

Do I need to pay any fees for an air pollution permit?

Yes. the APCD charges the applicant fees for processing and filling air pollution permits. Based on the permit type, one or more of the following fees may apply. APCD permit fees are summarized below:

• Application Filing Fee - Initial charge for each Authority to Construct or Permit to Operate.
• Application Processing Fee - In addition to the filing fee, there is an application processing fee based on the amount of staff time required to review and process each Authority to Construct or each Permit to Operate for which an Authority to Construct was not obtained.
• Permit to Operate Fee - Invoiced when the APCD engineer approves the Permit to Operate.
• Annual Operating Fee - Invoiced annually based on the facility’s permitted air pollutant emissions.

Refer to APCD Rule 42 (Permit Fees) for additional details regarding air pollution permit fees.

What happens after my air pollution permit is approved?

You will be able to construct and/or operate your facility. However, to ensure continuing compliance with APCD rules, your permit will be subject to annual renewal and your facility will be subject to periodic inspections by APCD inspectors.

What is the APCD’s Questionnaire (AB3205)?

It is a questionnaire that notifies the APCD about businesses that may need air pollution permits. State law (AB3205) prohibits city or county agencies from issuing building permits or Certificates of Occupancy unless APCD air pollution requirements are met. This helps prevent the installation of unpermitted sources of air pollution and unsupervised renovation and demolition of facilities containing asbestos. Click here for more information regarding AB3205 requirements and to download a copy of the AB3205 Questionnaire.

Does APCD regulate asbestos removal?

Yes, asbestos is a hazardous air pollutant and its removal is regulated by the APCD through APCD Rule 62.7 (Asbestos - Demolition and Renovation). APCD’s asbestos removal requirements apply regardless of the need for either a discretionary land use permit from the County of Ventura or an air pollution permit from the APCD. Rule 62.7 applies to all renovation and demolition operations, including dwelling units involving 100 or more square feet of asbestos containing material. However, residential single-unit dwellings where the owner/occupant performs such operations are exempt. Click here for more information regarding project requirements for asbestos removal. You can also contact the APCD Compliance Division by telephone at (805) 303-3709 or (805) 303-3706 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Where can I obtain more information about APCD permits?

You can learn more about APCD permits in the Permit Brochure located on the Brochure section. You can also contact the APCD’s Engineering Division by telephone at (805) 303-3684, by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or by visiting the APCD website by clicking on Department Home link at the top of the page.

Please contact the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District at (805) 303-3684 if you have any other questions.

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Contacts

APCD Engineering Division
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

All General APCD Questions:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

4567 Telephone Road, 2nd Floor
Ventura, CA 93003

Phone: 805-303-4005
Fax: 805-456-7797

Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm