Does my business need an air permit?
Environmental regulations are complex and determining if your business needs an air permit can be confusing. Under state and federal regulations, it is the business owner's responsibility to obtain all necessary permits.

How do I know if my business needs a permit?
Air pollution permits are required for "air contaminant sources". A business may have any number of sources at its facility. Each source requires its own permit unless it is specifically exempted.

What is an air "contaminant source" or an "emissions unit"?
An emissions unit is a term used to define a source of air pollution. The actual definition is (as found in OAC rule 3745-77-01). An "emissions unit" means any part or activity of a stationary source that emits or has the potential to emit any regulated air pollutant or any pollutant listed under section 112(b) of the Act. The term is not meant to alter or affect the definition of the term "unit" for purposes of Title IV OF the Act. This definition allows some flexibility in defining what is an emissions unit. Generally it is a machine or operation which emits a pollutant.

There are four rules of thumb that can often help in identifying air contaminant sources:

1. Something that has a stack, dust collector or a vent. Examples: shotblasters, grinders, storage tanks.
2. Process using paints, solvents, adhesives or inks. Examples: paint booths, printing presses, solvent cleaning tanks.
3. Process which burns a fuel (e.g. oil, natural gas, coal). Examples: boilers, furnaces, process heaters.
4. Process which produces visible dust or smoke or produces odors. Examples: incinerators, unpaved roadways, material handling.

If you are unsure if your air pollution source is considered one or more emissions units, contact your Ohio EPA representative to ask.

How do I know what agency to contact for obtaining an air permit?
Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services is the local air agency regulating Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren Counties. If you have a facility in one of these counties, please call (513)-946-7777 during our regular business hours and one of our Environmental Compliance Specialists will be glad to assist you. If you have a facility in any other county in Ohio, please click on this link to see the listing of Ohio EPA District Offices & Local Air Pollution Control Agencies.

How do I get help?
There are several options to obtain assistance for either filling out these forms or for general EPA related matters. The first of these is to simply contact your Ohio EPA representative to ask questions. It is highly recommended that you discuss your plans with the appropriate Ohio EPA representative very early in the process. They will be glad to assist you. This also will  make  the permitting process go as smoothly as possible. Remember that you may have several people to contact within Ohio EPA. For example, if your project involves air pollution emissions units and wastewater discharges, then you will need to contact the air and wastewater sections in the appropriate local office.

Additional information is also available on the Ohio EPA air program electronic bulletin board system (BBS). This system contains many air program guidance documents, forms and other information. Anyone with a personal computer, a modem and communications software can contact the system. The phone number for the system is (614) 644-3901. Your communications software should be set for 8 bits, no parity, one stop bit. Communications speeds of up to 9600 baud are accepted.

You can also contract with consultants for assistance. These are typically listed in the yellow pages under Consultants: Environmental. The Ohio EPA cannot recommend any one consultant. It is highly recommended that you get references before hiring a consultant. Consultants have a wide range of experience and expertise so it is important for you to find out if the consultant you plan to hire can do the job you need done correctly.

Don't forget that the Ohio EPA Small Business Program is available to help small businesses get permits. This is a confidential service. To find out if you qualify call (614) 644-4830.

When should I file and how long will it take to get a permit?
A final permit to install must be obtained before beginning any construction of a new air pollution emissions unit. This means that it is very important for companies to plan for sufficient lead time for the time it takes to get a permit. The actual time it takes can vary for many reasons: the length of the review process, the completeness of the application, the complexity of the applicable regulations, the need for a draft permit and/or public hearing, Ohio EPA permit review backlogs, among others. Expect this process to take four to six months for normal permits, one to two years for major new facilities. It is best to contact the Ohio EPA field office representative as soon as you know about the need to install a new emissions unit. Ask them to estimate the time it will take and plan accordingly. When you fill out your application be sure to complete all information requested which is applicable to your situation. If you are unclear if you need to complete a form or part of a form, contact your field office representative to ask them. This will help assure your application is complete and will prevent delays due to an incomplete application.

What happens if I don't have all of the information but still need a permit?
The application forms require a lot of information. Most of that information is needed for our review. However, sometimes a data item is not needed for your particular situation. If you don't have some information requested on the application, call up your Ohio EPA representative and ask them if it is needed. They can often give you advice on the need for that data element or how best to submit the data you do have.

Where do I send my application?
Applications should be submitted to the Ohio EPA field office or local office that covers the facility location. For facilities in Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties, send the applications to: