California · Health and Safety Code - HSC

HSC §42400.2: (a) Any person who emits an air contaminant in violation of any provision of this part, or any order, rule, regulation, or permit of the state board or of a district pertaining to emission regulations

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

A person who knowingly emits air contaminants in violation of regulations and fails to correct the violation within a reasonable time is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by fine up to $40,000 and/or jail time up to one year. Enhanced penalties apply if the violation causes serious bodily injury or death.

Read the full statutory text
(a) Any person who emits an air contaminant in violation of any provision of this part, or any order, rule, regulation, or permit of the state board or of a district pertaining to emission regulations or limitations, and who knew of the emission and failed to take corrective action within a reasonable period of time under the circumstances, is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of not more than forty thousand dollars ($40,000), or imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment. (b) For purposes of this section, “corrective action” means the termination of the emission violation or the grant of a variance from the applicable order, rule, regulation, or permit pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 42350). If a district regulation regarding process upsets or equipment breakdowns would allow continued operation of equipment which is emitting air contaminants in excess of allowable limits, compliance with that regulation is deemed to be corrective action. (c) Any person who owns or operates any source of air contaminants in violation of Section 41700 that causes great bodily injury, as defined by Section 12022.7 of the Penal Code, to, or death of, any person, and who knew of the emission and failed to take corrective action within a reasonable period of time under the circumstances, is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000), or imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment. (d) Each day during any portion of which a violation occurs constitutes a separate offense.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.

MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.

This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.