FAQs - Rules

APCD rules are specific regulations designed to limit air pollution. While a rule can take many shapes, it often outlines requirements for specific activities such as open burning, incineration, gasoline storage, oil and gas processing, painting and refinishing, degreasing, dry cleaning, asphalt paving, and chrome plating.

Under what authority does the APCD adopt and enforce rules?

The California Health and Safety Code gives the APCD primary responsibility for controlling air pollution from stationary sources in order to protect the public health. This responsibility includes the authority to develop, adopt, and enforce rules.

What opportunity does the public have to comment on proposed rules?

There are many opportunities for public input in the rule making process: workshops held with affected businesses, Community Advisory Council Meetings, and adoption hearings. For more detail, see Making Rules.

Do I need a permit?

For information on APCD Permits, See Permits and Engineering/The Permit Process.

Which rules apply to my type of business?

The following table provides a list of typical types of businesses, what we call "sources," subject to Rule 201, Permits Required, and the specific rules that may apply. Additional rules may apply to your business or process. Please view this page, and contact our Engineering and Compliance Division to ensure you are complying with all applicable rules. Some rules listed below (e.g., 304, 305, 306, and 307) are different for businesses located in the Northern Zone (N) or the Southern Zone (S). This table is updated periodically.

In addition to the prohibitory rules listed below, businesses must comply with Regulation VIII, New Source Review. Some business may also be subject to the requirements of Regulation IX, New Source Performance Standards, and/or Regulation X, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. For more information on the APCD's New Source Review and permit process, see the Permit Services and Engineering section of this website or contact our Business Assistance Program.

Type of Business (Source), Material, or Equipment	Applicable Prohibitory Rules
Adhesives and Sealants	301, 302, 303, 317, 321 & 353
Agricultural Mills (Seed Cleaning)	301, 302, 303, 304 (N), 305 (S), 306 (N), 307 (S), 309, 311 & 370
Aircraft and/or Aerospace Coating Equipment	301, 302, 303, 317,322, 324, 330, 337 & 370
Asphalt Air Blowing - Southern Zone	301, 302, 303 & 319
Asphaltic Concrete Batch Plant	301, 302, 303, 304 (N), 305 (S), 306 (N), 307 (S), 309, 311, 325, 329 & 370
Auto Body Shop	301, 302, 303, 317, 322, 324, 339 & 370
Boilers	301, 302, 303, 304 (N), 305 (S), 309, 311, 342 or 360, & 370
Bulk Fuel Storage	301, 302, 303 & 370
Central Furnaces	301, 302, 303, 304(N), 305(S), 309, 311 & 352
Chrome Plating and Chromic Acid Anodizing Equipment	301, 302, 303, 334 & 370
Concrete Batch Plant	301, 302, 306 (N), 307 (S), & 370
Contaminated Soil/Groundwater Site Cleanup	301, 302, 303 & 370
Cooling Towers Using Hexavalent Chromium	301, 302, 303, 335, & 370
Crushing and Screening Plant	301, 302, 303, 306 (N), 307 (S) & 370
Cutback and Emulsified Asphalt Paving Materials	301, 302, 303 & 329
Degreaser	301, 302, 303, 317, 321, 324, & 370
Drycleaner (Perchloroethylene Solvent)	301, 302, 303, 311, 324, 360, 370, & Title 17 California Code of Regulations, Section 93109
Drycleaner (Petroleum Solvent)	301, 302, 303, 311, 320, 324, & 370
Dryers (Mineral Processing)	301, 302, 303, 304(N), 305(S), 306(N), 307(S), 309, 311 & 370. If the material heated does not come into direct contact with the products of combustion, Rule 342 or Rule 361 may apply as well.
Ethylene Oxide Sterilizer	301, 302, 303, 336 & 370
Exhaust hood	301, 302, 303, 317, 324 & 370
Fabric Filter (Baghouse)	301, 302, 303, 306 (N), 307 (S) & 370
Fiberglass Fabrication	301, 302, 303, 324, 349 & 370
Fires Set Under Public Authority	301, 302, 303 & 313
Flare (Industrial Thermal Oxidizer)	301, 302, 303, 304 (N), 305 (S), 306 (N), 307 (S), 309, 359, & 370
Gas Plant	301, 302, 303, 304 (N), 305 (S), 309, 310, 311, 317, 324, 325, 32, 327, 331, 342, 343, 344, 360 & 370
Gas Turbine	301, 302, 303, 304 (N), 305 (S), 309, 311 & 370
Gasoline Station	301, 303, 316 & 370
Graphic Arts (Packaging Rotogravure, Publishing Rotogravure, Flexography, and related Coating and Laminating Processes)	301, 302, 303, 317 & 354
Incinerator (Medical Waste)	301, 302, 303, 308, 340, 309, 311, & 370
Incinerator (Municipal Waste)	301, 302, 303, 308, 309, 311, & 370
Internal Combustion Engine (Piston Type)	301, 302, 303, 304 (N, 305 (S), 306 (N), 309, 310, 311, 333 & 370
Kilns (Aggregate and Mineral Processing)	301, 302, 303, 304(N), 305(S), 306(N), 307(S), 309, 311 & 370. If the material heated does not come into direct contact with the products of combustion, Rule 342 or Rule 361 may apply as well.
Loading of Organic Liquid Cargo Vessels	301, 302, 303 & 346
Marine Terminal	301, 303, 327 & 370
Metal Surface Coating/Painting (Non-Autobody and Non-Aerospace/Aircraft)	301, 302, 303, 317, 322, 324, 330 & 370
Municipal Landfill	301, 302, 303, 333, 341, 359 & 370
Natural Gas Odorant and Metering Station	301, 302, 303, 310, & 370
Offshore Platform	301, 302, 303, 304 (N), 305 (S), 309, 310, 311, 317, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 330, 333, 343, 359, 360 & 370
Onshore Petroleum Product Extraction and Processing	301, 302, 303, 304 (N), 305 (S), 309, 310, 311, 317, 324, 325, 326, 327, 331, 342, 343, 344, 359, 360 & 370
Open Fires	301, 302, 303 & 312
Oven (Industrial)	301, 302, 303, 309, 311 & 370
Petroleum Product Pipeline Facilities	301, 303, 326, 331, 343, & 370
Petroleum Solvent Dry Cleaners	301, 302, 303 & 320
Printers or Printing Processes (see "Graphic Arts")
Process Heaters	301, 302, 303, 304 (N), 305 (S), 306 (N), 307 (S), 309, 311, 342 or 361, & 370
Rocket Fuel Storage and Handling Equipment	301, 302, 303, 321, & 370
Sand and Gravel handling Facilities	301, 302, 303, 309, & 370
Solvent Wipe Cleaning	301, 302, 303, 317, 324, & 370
Sour Water Wells and Associated Treatment Systems	301, 303, 309, 310, & 370
Steam Generator	301, 302, 303, 304(N), 305(S), 309, 311, 342 or 360, & 370
Storage Tank (Organic Liquid)	301, 303, 325, 326, & 370
Truck Loading Rack	301, 303, 331, & 370
Wastewater Treatment Plants	301, 302, 303, 309, 310, 311, 342, 360 & 370
Water Heaters	301, 302, 303, 304(N), 305(S), 309, 311, 352 & 360
Wood Furniture Refinishing	301, 302, 303, 317, 324, 351, & 370

For more FAQs, see Permits & Engineering/FAQs, contact our Business Assistance Line, (805) 961-8868, or e-mail the Rules Division at rules@sbcapcd.org.

Return to Rules and Regulations

Introduction to Rules - Frequently Asked Questions

What is a rule?

Under what authority does the APCD adopt and enforce rules?

What opportunity does the public have to comment on proposed rules?

Do I need a permit?

Which rules apply to my type of business?

Type of Business (Source), Material, or Equipment

Applicable Prohibitory Rules