Air Pollution Complaints
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District receives over 6,000 air pollution complaints every year from members of the public. Members of the public are keenly aware of air pollution events in their communities and often act as the first indicators of air quality problems to the Air District.Satisfactory resolution of complaints is one of the most important and challenging objectives of Air District staff.
The Air District accepts 3 different types of air pollution complaints:
- General complaints regarding emissions from industrial plants, factories, refineries or neighborhood businesses or for odor, dust or chemical air pollutants;
- Woodsmoke complaints regarding burning of wood and related solid fuels; and
- Smoking vehicle complaints for excessive exhaust from cars, trucks or busses.
These three types of complaints are addressed differently by the Air District. If you wish to register an air pollution complaint, please contact us at the following, depending on the type of complaint:
General Air Pollution Complaints: 1-800-334-ODOR(6367)
For complaints regarding odors, dust, smoke from industrial or commercial facilities, gas station nozzles, idling port or commercial trucks, transit buses, school buses and excessive smoke from agricultural fires or other controlled-burns, please call our 24 hour toll-free complaint hotline: 1-800-334-ODOR(6367).
Additionally, the California Air Resources Board and the Air District have a program which limits idling and smoking from railroad locomotives.To report idling or smoking locomotives, call 1-800-334-ODOR or file a complaint at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/railyard/complaint/complaint.htm.
Wood Smoke Complaints: 1-877-4NO-BURN (466-2876)
For complaints about wood burning or woodsmoke, backyard burning (non-cooking fires only), burning of trash, please complete the online wood burning complaint form or call the 24 hour toll-free wood burning complaint line: 1-877-4NO-BURN (1-877-466-2876).
Smoking Vehicles: 1-800-exhaust (394-2878)
For complaints regarding smoking vehicles(Languages - Document available in: Español), visit the smoking vehicle web page or call the 24 hour toll-free smoking vehicle complaint line: 1-800-exhaust (1-800-394-2878).
General Information for all Complaints
- The names and addresses of complainants are confidential divulged to air district staff, except where required in matters pending before the court. Or, you may register your complaint anonymously.
- Complaints are never solicited by district personnel. air pollution complaints should be spontaneous and self-generated.