Small Business Assistance - Permit Primer

Volatile Organic Compounds

A VOC or volatile organic compound emissions source is a unit that uses paints, inks, lacquers, adhesives, other coatings, clean up solvents or other solvents or materials that contain VOCs or create emissions of VOCs. Some examples of VOC sources include wood coating, metal part painting, plastic part coating, fabric coating, cabinet/countertop lamination, furniture coating, printing presses, screen printing units, and autobody repair shops.

Paint spray booth - image

You need to determine if you are exempt

Each process in the list below has a certain exemption level (listed in the drop-down definition box that appears when clicking on each one) that your process must be less than to be exempt. If your process is not below those levels, or you cannot substitute materials or modify the process to bring it below those levels then you are not exempt and will need to apply for a construction permit.

(Click on the drop-down topic below to review the exemption level, then refer to the facts sheets that follow)

Topics with Clickable, Drop-down Exemption Levels

Use adhesives, coatings, paints, inks, other solvents or solvent containing materials
Automobile Refinishing Operations
Painting or Coating Operations
Graphic Arts Operations
Storage Tanks - Organic Compounds
Storage Tanks - Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Bulk Gasoline Plants
Cold Cleaning Equipment
Batch Cold Cleaning Equipment
Open Top Vapor Degreasing Equipment
Batch Open Top Vapor Degreasing Equipment
Conveyorized Non-vapor Degreasing and Conveyorized Vapor Degreasing Equipment
Perchloroethylene Dry Cleaning Area Sources
Private Alcohol Fuel Production Systems
Soil or Water Remediation

For help on calculating your VOC emissions, please review the following fact sheet (opens in new window)

Clean Air Facts: VOC Sources Fact Sheet (Exit DNR) (PDF, 48 KB)

If you've determined you are not exempt, please continue by clicking the "Not Exempt" button below. This link will take you to a pollution prevention option web page.