Orange County is currently in attainment with the federal standards. To find out the current air quality, check out U.S. EPA's AirNow.
The Air Quality Management (AQM) section ensures that the air quality of Orange County meets standards set forth in the Federal Clean Air Act and in the Florida Statutes. The AQM section’s primary duties include permitting, compliance (including asbestos), monitoring, compliance assistance & outreach.
AQM staff issue permits to regulate emissions generated by facilities in Orange County. These facilities include, but are not limited to, hospitals, bakeries, small power plants, painting operations, defense plants, and plastic manufacturing companies. Check our flow chart. Do you need a permit?
AQM staff meets with facility management prior to the submittal of permit applications. These meetings educate facility staff about the permit process and EPD expectations in order to help alleviate unnecessary informational requests after the submittal of the application. Additional permitting information and applications are available in the environmental permitting section at Permits and Licenses.
Facilities classified as a minor source of air pollution may be eligible for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Air General (AG) Permit Registration Program, which is administered by DEP’s Division of Air Resources Management (DARM). This program offers an alternative to individual air operating permits and simplifies the process.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates certain types of facilities without EPD involvement. Examples include the release of Greenhouse Gases and Freon, and the EPA’s Collision Repair Campaign (for additional information visit Environmental Protection Agency Collision Repair).
The AQM staff routinely inspects and audits over 200 air permitted facilities within Orange County. Compliance assistance is offered to businesses wishing a preliminary audit of their facility in order to determine if they are meeting the permit conditions. Visible emissions and stack test audits must be scheduled with the AQM section at least 15 days prior to the test date.
Asbestos inspections are conducted on buildings scheduled for renovation and demolition. Contractors must submit Notice for Demolition or Asbestos Renovation form and a Demolition Permit to the AQM section at least 10 days prior to the commencement of a job.
AQM staff operates stationary air monitoring stations located throughout Orange County. Ambient air is monitored for Criteria Pollutants (pollutants deemed harmful to human health & the environment), which include: ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds. Current and historical ambient monitoring data can be located on FDEP’s website. For current air quality conditions, check out EPA’s AIRNow website.
The AQM section provides numerous outreach services to area business – from educational services designed to assist businesses reduce fuel consumption for fleet vehicles to lowering energy costs at their place of business. Prior County projects involved:
In 2010, the AQM section spearheaded Get Ready Central Florida (GRCF) (Facebook), a coalition of municipalities, utility providers, businesses, and electric vehicle enthusiasts committed to preparing Central Florida for electric transportation. Through the efforts of GRCF, Orlando is now ranked, along with 13 other cities, as a national leader in electric transportation (according to the Rocky Mountain Institute). Nearly 300 public charging stations have been installed within a 70 mile radius of downtown Orlando.
Environmental Protection Division 3165 McCrory Place, Suite 200 Orlando, FL 32803 Email: Air Permit Inquiries: AirPermitsOrangeCounty@ocfl.net Asbestos Inquiries: AsbestosInquiriesOrangeCounty@ocfl.net Phone: (407) 836-1400 Fax: (407) 836-1499
All e-mail sent to this address becomes part of Orange County public record. Comments received by our e-mail subsystem can be read by anyone who requests that privilege. In compliance with "Government in the Sunshine" laws, Orange County Government must make available, at request, any and all information not deemed a threat to the security of law enforcement agencies and personnel.