The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District is a special district whose mission is to protect human health and property from the harmful effects of air pollution.
The District was established in 1971 by a joint powers agreement between the Yolo and Solano County Boards of Supervisors. The District is governed by a 14-member Board of Directors composed of local elected representatives.
The District has jurisdiction over all of Yolo County and the northeast portion of Solano County, including Vacaville, Dixon and Rio Vista. The District includes approximately 1,500 square miles and a population of approximately 354,000 people.
Our Work
Yolo-Solano AQMD uses a five-pronged approach to protecting local air quality: rules and compliance, permits, incentives, land use and public awareness. Here’s a brief overview of each of those paths. Click on the links to learn more.
- Rules and Compliance: The District’s Board of Directors adopts rules intended to protect our clean air without imposing unnecessary burdens on industry. These rules are enforced through the District’s permitting process and compliance programs. This includes regular inspections.
- Permits: The District issues permits for any commercial projects in its jurisdiction that has the potential to emit air pollution. These permits adhere to District-adopted rules and regulations, such as emission limits or pollution control technology requirements.
- Incentives: Where the District does not have regulatory authority to limit emissions – such as mobile sources – it seeks to leverage incentive funding to reduce air pollution and make adoption of cleaner equipment cost-effective for members of the community.
- Land Use: The District’s planning staff contributes to environmental review for local projects that could impact air quality and assists with initiatives intended to improve clean transportation mode share.
- Public Awareness: The District works to affect behavior change by educating the public on the primary consumer-level sources of air pollution such as personal transportation and wood burning. The District also maintains several air quality monitors throughout Yolo-Solano and provides real-time data on pollution conditions to the public.
Our Funding Sources
Yolo-Solano AQMD has two primary sources of funding: permit fees paid by local regulated sources of air pollution and vehicle registration fees. Find more information about our revenue and expenses on our Budget & Finance page.
