General orders for air quality permits
We issue general order permits to commercial sources of air pollution. A general order is a group permit that simplifies the air permitting process. When several sources of the air pollution are similar, we can issue a “general order” for all the sources, rather than a series of individual permits. There are categories of general orders for air pollution that comes from commercial sources.
To use a general order
To decide if you need to apply for a general order, click on the category below that applies to your business. Read the general order in that category. If it applies to your business, follow these steps:
- Fill out the application listed in the category that applies to your business.
- Send us your application and permit fee.
- Follow the conditions in the general order that we send you.
General orders for portable sources of air pollution
Certain types of businesses that emit air pollution move their operations around the state, such as:
- Portable asphalt plants
- Portable concrete plants
- Portable rock crushers
- Non-road engines used to power these operations
A business can get a general order or permit for these operations from us. However, if a business already has a valid air permit for these operations issued by a local clean air agency, we will accept that permit if it was issued after July 1, 2010.
Notify us at least 15 days before you start work in a county we issue permits in. Include the notification form, a copy of your valid air permit, and the fee. You must also comply with all relevant State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) guidelines.
Permit fees and budget
A business in our jurisdiction pays an hourly fee or a complexity-based fee for an air permit. Our jurisdiction covers counties that do not have a local clean air agency, specifically: Adams, Asotin, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties.
Processing applications on time
We update fees to cover costs of reviewing permit applications and writing permits.1 We are committed to making timely decisions about permit applications.
- Permit fees
- What information is needed to make a final decision on a permit application
- Decision times (number of days after we have received all the information needed)
2026-2027 fee schedule
| 2023 fee1 | 2026 fee | |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate | $119 | $141 |
| Flat fee (Tables 4 and 5)1 | varies | 18.5% increase |
12023 fee tables listed in WAC 173-455-120
More information
Contact our regional office where your project is located. If you are in another county, contact the local clean air agency to check the types of general orders they have.
- Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties
509-329-3400 - Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, and Okanogan counties
509-575-2490 - Benton, Spokane, Yakima, and western Washington counties
Contact the local clean air agency in your area.
Related links
- Notification Form: Portable Sources and Non-Road Engines
- Application for Operating Non-Road Engines Cumulatively Greater Than 2000 Brake Horsepower: Intent to Operate
- Application for Operating Non-Road Engines Cumulatively Greater Than 2000 Brake Horsepower: Supplemental Non-Road Engine Information Sheet
- General order of approval, WAC 173-400-560
Contact information
Gary Huitsing
Environmental Engineer
gary.huitsing@ecy.wa.gov
360-522-0925