Annual air quality registration

If a business emits air pollution, it is probably regulated by Ecology or a local clean air agency. This may require registering every year. A business must pay a yearly fee based on the amount of air pollution they produce and they must report their emissions.

Registration program

Tracking emissions helps us keep Washington's air healthy. To make sure businesses are meeting air quality requirements, we regularly inspect registered sources.

The permitting agency (Ecology or a local clean air agency) for your area needs to know when a business:

  • Expands operations.
  • Adds equipment.
  • Changes ownership.
  • Closes.

Figure out which local clean air agency issues your permit. Each agency has its own registration process. If an agency other than Ecology issues your permit, contact them.

For businesses regulated by Ecology

Date Action
Jan. 31 Emissions inventory report due to Ecology
Jan. 1 Fee bill mailed to you
April 1 Fee due to Ecology
Tier – Annual Emissions (tons per year) 2023 fee 2024 fee 2025 fee
Tier 1 – less than 0.01 $200 $231 $241
Tier 2 – 0.01–10 $700 $810 $842
Tier 3 – +10–20 $1,300 $1,504 $1,564
Tier 4 – +20–70 $1,500 $1,736 $1,805
Tier 5 – +70 $7,000 $8,100 $8,424
Tier 6 – synthetic minor source1 that emits or has the potential to emit at or above 80 percent of the threshold for a major source2 $8,000 $9,257 $9,627

1 defined in WAC 173‑400‑030                              2 defined in WAC 173‑401‑200

Fee payment options

A small business owner may apply for a fee reduction by April 1, if criteria is met. If you want to pay your fee in two installments, you can enroll in our payment plan. Contact us.

Registration budget and forms