Air Quality Program

Elevated levels of air pollutants increase the occurrence of respiratory diseases, such as asthma, and shorten life expectancy. The Air Quality Program enforces local laws in order to improve indoor and outdoor air quality. The Program also conducts research on air pollution exposure and pollution reduction strategies to inform land use and transportation planning and policy decisions.

Principal Activities and Services

• Implement Article 38 of the Health Code through the conduct and review of air quality assessments on new residential developments, to determine whether air pollution mitigation measures are required.
• Implement Article 31 of the Health Code through review, approval and monitoring of dust control plans for large construction sites.
• Measure and model priority air pollutants, including particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and diesel exhaust.
• Develop a Community Risk Reduction Plan to improve air quality and eliminate air pollution exposure disparities.
• Enforce the city's secondhand smoke ordinance.
• Coordinate with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District in developing and enforcing health protective air pollution policy.

Air Quality Assessment Services

The Air Quality Program conducts location specific air quality assessments for private individuals and organizations on a fee for service basis (see Sample Planning Letter under Helpful Links). Requests for air quality assessments should include:

1. Project location (address and parcel number)
2. Map of project including all surrounding streets within 500 feet
3. Distance (in feet) of the first residential unit above the ground surface
4. Name of assigned planner to the project from the Planning Department
5. The appropriate fee in the form of a check payable to the San Francisco Environmental Health Section (see the Fee Schedule under Helpful Links).

Mail all requests to: Tom Rivard, 1390 Market Street, Suite 822, San Francisco, CA 94102.

Planning, Policy and Research

For more information on Air Quality Program activities involving planning, policy and research, please see the Program on Health, Equity and Sustainability.

Related Agencies

The following agencies are responsible for responding to complaints regarding specific air pollution issues. Please contact the appropriate agency depending on the type of complaint.

Bay Area Air Quality Management District

• Industrial plants
• Factories
• Refineries
• Neighborhood businesses or odor
• Dust or chemical air pollutants
• Wood smoke complaints regarding burning of wood and related solid fuels
• Smoking vehicle complaints for excessive exhaust from cars, trucks or buses

San Francisco Police Department

• Diesel truck idling