Permit Fees

Page Contents
	Permit Processing Fee
	Annual Operating Permit Renewal Fee
	Negotiated Payment Schedule
	Alterations, Additions, Modifications, Change in Location and/or Transfer of Permit

When you apply for a permit, you must pay a permit processing fee. The fee must accompany the application in order for the application to be processed. Permit processing fees are established by AQMD’s Governing Board, based on the size and complexity of the equipment to be permitted and, in some instances, the type of air pollution being emitted. Fees for processing of permit applications are shown in AQMD Rule 301 Stationary Source Permit Fees (Acrobat PDF 32 Kb).

You will be billed each year for the annual operating fees listed in Rule 301. The total fee will be composed of two elements:

• the equipment fee, based on the type and size of the equipment, and
• the emissions fee, calculated from the total tons of each pollutant emitted during the prior calendar year.

Further information on equipment fees can be found in Rule 301 Section 308.  The equipment fee increases with equipment size, power, or capacity. Further information on annual emission fees is found in Rule 301 Section 303.2.  Industrial sources must pay fees on a per ton basis for releasing certain air pollutants: reactive organic gas (ROG), total suspended particulate matter (PM or PM₁₀), nitrogen oxides (NO_x) carbon monoxide (CO) and sulfur oxides (SO_x).  

You must pay the renewal fee by the annual renewal date (due date) in the invoice or be subject to a 50% increase in fees. The AQMD will cancel the Permit to Operate if the annual renewal is not paid. It is a violation of state law and AQMD rules to continue to operate without a permit. Operation after a permit has been canceled for non-payment of fees may result in a fine of up to $50,000 per day and/or up to six months in jail for each day of operation.

For more information violations of air quality laws, see our compliance section.

If a business certifies to the satisfaction of the Air Pollution Control Officer by declaration that the payment in full of the permit renewal fee would pose an undue financial hardship, the AQMD may negotiate an amended fee payment schedule.  See Rule 301, Section 402, Negotiated Payment Schedule.

A permit fee is also due when an application is filed for alterations or additions to existing equipment or modifications to equipment or permits.  See Rule 301, Section 306, Alterations, Additions, Revisions or Change in Conditions.  An application and fee is also due when equipment is moved to a new location within the AQMD or when a permit is transferred from one person to another. See Rule 301, Section 307, Change of Location or Ownership.