- 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?
- Which rules apply to my type of business?
- How can I tell if a source is in the Northern or Southern Zone of Santa Barbara County?
What is a rule?
APCD rules are specific regulations designed to limit air pollution. While a rule can take many shapes, it often outlines requirements for a specific type of operation or source of pollution. Examples of such operations include: open burning, gasoline storage and dispensing, oil and gas processing, automotive coating, and dry cleaning operations. Each rule generally contains a statement of conditions under which the rule applies, the definitions of terms, the requirements of the rule, and any potential exemptions from the rule.
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’s 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 various opportunities for public input in the rule-making process. The public is invited to attend workshops, Community Advisory Council Meetings, and adoption hearings. For more details, see the Rule Development Process.
Which rules apply to my type of business?
Some rules, likes Rule 301 – 303, apply to nearly all businesses within the County. Other rules adopted by the District apply to more specific equipment units or processes. The following table provides a list of typical types of businesses and equipment units subject to Rule 201, Permits Required, and the specific rules that may apply. Please note that some of the older rules (e.g., 304, 305, 306, 307, 318, 319) are different for businesses located in the Northern Zone (N) or the Southern Zone (S) of Santa Barbara County.
| Type of Business, Material, or Equipment | Potentially Applicable Prohibitory Rules |
|---|---|
| Coating & Solvent Operations | |
| Adhesives and Sealants | 317, 324, & 353 |
| Aerospace Vehicle or Component Coating Equipment | 317, 322, 324, & 337 |
| Autobody Shop | 317, 322, 324, & 339 |
| Degreaser | 317, 321, & 324 |
| Drycleaner (Perchloroethylene or Petroleum Solvent) | 317, 320 or Drycleaner ATCM (Title 17 CCR, §93109), 324, & 360 |
| Exhaust Hood | 317 & 324 |
| Fiberglass/Polyester Resin | 317, 324, & 349 |
| Graphic Arts/Printing/Laminating Processes | 317 & 354 |
| Metal Surface Coating (Non-Autobody and Non-Aerospace) | 317, 322, 324, & 330 |
| Solvent Wipe Cleaning (General) | 317, 321, & 324 |
| Wood Furniture Coating and/or Refinishing | 317, 324, & 351 |
| Combustion Equipment | |
| Boilers, Water Heaters, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters | 304(N) or 305(S), 209, 311, & 342/360/361/352 |
| Dryers or Kilns (Aggregate or Mineral Processing) | 304(N) or 305(S), 306(N) or 307(S), 309, & 311. |
| Flare (Industrial Thermal Oxidizer) | 304(N) or 305(S), 309, & 359 |
| Gas Turbine | 304(N) or 305(S), 309, & 311 |
| Incinerator (Medical or Municipal Waste) | 308, 309, 311, & 340 |
| Internal Combustion Engine (Piston Type) | 304(N) or 305(S), 309, 311, & 333 |
| Oven (Industrial) | 309 & 311 |
| Commercial & Industrial Processes |
|
| Aggregate Handling Facilities & Portable Plants | 304(N) or 305(S), 306(N) or 307(S) |
| Agricultural Mills (Seed Cleaning) | 304(N) or 305(S), 306(N) or 307(S) |
| Asphalt Batch Plant | 304(N) or 305(S), 306(N) or 307(S), 309, 311, & 329 |
| Concrete Batch Plant | 304(N) or 305(S), 306(N) or 307(S) |
| Fabric Filter (Baghouse) | 304(N) or 305(S), & 306(N) or 307(S) |
| Gasoline Station | 316 |
| Municipal Landfill | 333, 341, & 359 |
| Offshore Platform | 304(N) or 305(S), 309, 310, 311, 317, 321, 324, 325, 326, 331, 333, 343, 359, & 342/360/361 |
| Onshore Petroleum Product Extraction and Processing | 304(N) or 305(S), 309, 310, 311, 317, 321, 324, 325, 326, 327, 331, 333, 343, 344, 359, & 342/360/361 |
| Petroleum Product Pipeline Facilities | 326, 331, 343 |
| Wastewater Treatment Plants | 309, 310, 311, & 342/360/361 |
| Various Other Operations | |
| Asphalt Air Blowing | 319(S) |
| Cutback and Emulsified Asphalt Paving Materials | 329 |
| Contaminated Soil/Groundwater Site Cleanup | 303 |
| Sour Water Wells and Associated Treatment Systems | 309 & 310 |
| Natural Gas Odorant and Metering Station | 310 |
| Rocket Fuel Storage and Handling Equipment | 321 |
| Storage Tank (Organic Liquid) | 325 & 326 |
| Loading of Organic Liquid Cargo Vessels | 346 |
In addition to the prohibitory rules listed above, 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, Regulation X – National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, and/or Regulation XIII – Part 70 Operating Permit Program.
Please contact our Engineering Division to ensure you are complying with all applicable rules. For more information on the APCD’s New Source Review or the permit process, see the Permit Services and Engineering webpage or contact our Business Assistance Program.
How can I tell if my business is in the Northern or Southern Zone of Santa Barbara County?
The map available here shows the Northern and Southern Zones. For specific legislative citations, see Rule 102 (the definition of “Zones of Santa Barbara County” on the last page) and Sections 60103(b) and 60104(c) of Title 17 of the California Administrative Code as written on December 21, 1968.
Note that all of Santa Barbara County is now within the South Central Coast Air Basin. In 1976, the California Air Resources Board amended the air basin designations (California Administrative Code, Title 17, Sections 60103 and 60104). Those amendments removed the Southern Zone of Santa Barbara County from the South Coast Air Basin and placed the entire County into the South Central Coast Air Basin.
