Air Operating Permit

Air Operating Permit applications are submitted through the Plan Review Division.

Contact Permitting and Inspection Center staff at 786-315-2800 if your property is in unincorporated Miami-Dade County or in a municipality. Contact Downtown staff at 305-372-6899 only if your property is within a municipality.

The Miami-Dade County Air Operating Permit is required for any air pollution source subsequent to construction or modification of the facility, and after demonstrating compliance with the terms and condition of the county air construction permit.

Depending on the type of facility and the amount of air emissions, the State of Florida may require a facility permit.

Any facility with the potential to emit the following air pollutants may require a County operating permit:

• Particulate Matter (PM)
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
• Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
• Carbon Monoxide (CO)
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Lead
• Hazardous Air pollutants (HAPs)

The category of permit (Class A, B or C) is dependent upon the volumes and types of emissions (before controls) as follows:

• C Source (less than 25 tons/year)
• B Source (equal to 25 tons/year but less than 100 tons/year)
• A Source (equal or more than 100 tons/year)

Some industry types or operations require Class A or B county air construction permits even if emissions are below the thresholds. Detailed information on these operations can be obtained by contacting Air Facilities Section permitting staff at 305-372-6925.

In an effort to preserve air quality, industries and businesses that are sources of air pollution are regulated pursuant to Chapter 24, Code of Miami-Dade County, Chapter 403, Florida Statutes (F.S.), and Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) Rules 62-4, and 62-204 through 62-297. Air permits are issued to regulated sources with enforceable terms and conditions under which the facility is required to construct/operate as mandated by Florida Department of Environmental Protection regulations and Environmental Resources Management rules.

Air pollution comes from many different sources such as factories, power plants, dry cleaners, cars, buses, trucks and even windblown dust and wildfires. Air pollution can threaten the health of human beings, trees, lakes, crops, and animals, as well as damage the ozone layer and buildings. Under the Clean Air Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets limits on how much of a pollutant is allowed in the air anywhere in the United States.

Although national air quality has improved over the last 20 years, many challenges remain in protecting public health and the environment. The EPA, pursuant to the 1977 Amendment of the Clean Air Act (CAA), established National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for the following six "criteria pollutants" considered harmful to public health and welfare:

• Particulate Matter (PM)
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
• Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
• Carbon Monoxide (CO)
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Lead

Furthermore, the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 addressed the issue of toxic air pollutants, also known as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). These pollutants are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental effects. EPA is working with state, local, and tribal governments to reduce air toxics releases of 188 pollutants to the environment.  Examples of toxic air pollutants include benzene, which is found in gasoline; perchlorethlyene, which is emitted from some dry cleaning facilities; and methylene chloride, which is used as a solvent and paint stripper by a number of industries.

Facilities may require other types of permits depending upon the location, nature and size of the project. These may include, but are not limited to:

• Industrial Waste Permit
• Storage Tank Permit
• Tree Removal Permit
• Stratospheric Ozone Protection Permit
• Solid Waste Permit
• Liquid Waste Permit
• Industrial Waste Pretreatment

Depending on your situation, you may need one or more of the above-mentioned permits. Additionally, there may be instances when a permit that is not listed here is required. We encourage you to call the contact number at the bottom of this page to discuss your particular case or to receive additional information.

Be advised that a State of Florida air permit may be required in addition to, or in lieu of, a county air construction permit. Miami-Dade County is delegated permitting authority for the issuance of most Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) permits. There are five types of state air permits: Construction Permits, Federally Enforceable State Operating Permits (FESOP), General Permits, Operational Permits and Title V Operational Permits.

For detailed information on state air permitting, visit the FDEP Air Permitting site. For state air permitting application and registration forms and instructions, visit the FDEP Forms site.

For industry-specific information including fact sheets, booklets, calendars and other materials, visit the FDEP Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) site.

Below is a general guideline for state permitting applicability.

A state permit may be required for any facility that emits or has the potential to emit greater than the following:

• 1,000 lbs per year of lead/lead compounds
• 1 ton per year of any hazardous air pollutant (HAP)
• 2.5 tons per year total HAPs
• 25 tons per year CO, NOx, SOx
• 10 tons per year any other regulated pollutant (volatile organic compounds FAC 62-210.200(280))

Note: Certain operations may have associated National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) requiring permitting based on criteria other than that listed above. For more information on permitting issues, call the Air Quality Management Division at 305-372-6925. The following is a list of other agencies that may have jurisdiction over these projects. Please be advised that their involvement will depend upon the location, nature, type and size of the project:

• Local Municipality (structural, zoning, building)
• Miami-Dade County Building Department (if located in unincorporated)
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)
• US Environmental Protection Agency (training, certification, equipment specifications and procedures)

A county air construction permit shall be issued, or a determination that the requested permit be denied, within 8 working days of an application which has been deemed complete by Environmental Resources Management.

The County Air Operating permit fees are based on the potential amount of air pollutants emitted by the facility.

• View the Air Operating Permit Fee Schedule

A county air construction permit shall be issued for a period of time sufficient to allow construction or modification of the facility or emissions unit and operation while the new or modified facility or emissions unit is conducting tests or otherwise demonstrating initial compliance with the conditions of the construction permit. A county air construction permit is usually issued for a period of one year. If needed, the facility can request an extension. The facility shall apply for and receive a county air operating permit prior to the expiration of the county air construction permit for regular operation.

For more information, please call 305-372-6925.

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