Hazardous Materials Unified Program Agency (HMUPA) Overview

The California Environmental Protection Agency certified the City and County of San Francisco, Department of Public Health, as a Certified Unified Program in 1996.  Six state environmental programs (hazardous materials storage; hazardous waste generation; hazardous waste treatment, underground tanks, above ground petroleum storage; and regulated substances) and two local programs Chlorofluorocarbon Recycling, and Medical Waste were consolidated and continue to be implemented by the Hazardous Materials Unified Program Agency (HMUPA).

The primary goal of HMUPA is to protect public health and the environment by promoting compliance with applicable laws and regulations.  HMUPA accomplishes this goal through education, community and industry outreach, inspections and enforcement. To learn more about Statewide Unified Program activities, go to the California CUPA Forum site.

HMUPA staff issue permits and registrations and inspect regulated businesses.  During these inspections we determine compliance with the California Health and Safety Code (HSC) Chapters 6.5, 6.7 and 6.95; HSC Division 104, Part 14, Medical Waste Management Act; Titles 19, 22 and 23 of the California Code of Regulations, and the San Francisco Health Code, Article 21, Article 21A, Article 22, Article 24 and Article 25.

San Francisco is divided into 11 HMUPA districts.  Each district is under the oversight of a district inspector who is responsible for ensuring that businesses comply with the regulatory requirements and for following up on complaints, hazardous materials releases  and other issues that arise in their district. 

HMUPA District Map (Coming Soon)

All inspectors in the HMUPA Program take part in continuous education and certification programs to ensure consistency and uniformity during inspections.  The California Environmental Protection Agency audits the program every three years to assure state-wide consistency.  View the latest Audit report for the City and County of San Francisco

What Business Activities Are Regulated by HMUPA?

What are Businesses Are Required To Do?

How Do I Obtain a HMUPA Application?

Are There Requirements for Specific Programs?

Back to main HMUPA page 

What Business Activities Are Regulated by HMUPA? (back to top)

Businesses are regulated by HMUPA if they engage in one or more of the following program elements (activities):

Examples of regulated businesses include: Gas/service stations, dry cleaners, auto repair/body shops, paint stores, dental/medical offices, retail supermarkets/drug stores, roofers, buildings with stand-by generators,

What are Businesses Are Required To Do? (back to top)

If your business is regulated under one or more of the above Program Elements, you must: submit a HMUPA application annually and maintain a valid HMUPA Compliance Certificate..  Each application has a due date that falls about 45 days after it is mailed.  In order to avoid late fees and penalties, you must pay attention to this due date.  If we do not receive a complete application including payment of fees by the due date, we are required to assess late fees and penalties.  If you need more time to complete the packet or pay your fees, you may request an extension to the due date.  In addition, you are required to correct any violations that we identify during periodic on-site inspections of your business. During these inspections, our job is to verify administrative and operational compliance with applicable laws and regulations for each program element applicable to your business.

Note: If you own a business is regulated under any one of the 8 HMUPA program elements and you do not have a currently valid Certificate of Registration or Operating Permit, you should contact us immediately.,

How Do I Obtain a HMUPA Application? (back to top)

New Business/ Moved to a new location/New Ownership

1. If you are opening a new business, a registered business moving to a new location within the City or are buying an existing business, you must contact our office BEFORE you complete HMUPA application forms.
2. Wait until HMUPA sends you the application paperwork:
• Hazardous Materials Unified Program Agency Summary Statement & Annual Certification Form
• Business Owner Operator Identification Form
• Invoice and Fee Calculation Form
3. Verify that the program elements your business is regulated under (identified in the cover letter mailed to you with the initial application) is correct.
4. Go to the applicable program element section(s) below.
5. Print out and complete all applicable forms for each program element you are regulated under.
6. Send in paperwork and applicable fees prior to the due date to avoid late fees and penalties.

We will inspect new businesses prior to approval of the HMUPA Compliance Certificate or Permit.  The Compliance Certificate is not transferable. Our office must be notified if there is a new owner or if the business has moved to a new location.

Existing Business Renewal Application

1. Wait until HMUPA sends you the renewal application documents listed below (about 2 months before the registration/permit expiration).
• Hazardous Materials Unified Program Agency Summary Statement & Annual Certification Form
• Business Owner Operator Identification Form
• Invoice and Fee Calculation Form
2. Determine if there have been changes to anything at your business that requires specific program element forms to be updated.
3. Go to the applicable program element section(s) below.
4. Print out and update all applicable forms.
5. Send in paperwork and applicable fees prior to the due date to avoid late fees and penalties.

After we receive your application, we will review the documents for completeness.  Once all documents are satisfactory and fees paid we will issue a Compliance Certificate or Permit.

Are There Requirements for Specific Programs? (back to top)

Each program element has specific requirements, forms and associated fees.  To learn about the requirements of the individual program elements, click on the links below:

Hazardous Materials Registration.  Facilities are regulated under this program when they store, use, generate or handle hazardous materials in amounts exceeding the threshold quantities.

Hazardous Waste Generators.  Facilities are regulated under this program when they generate any amount waste which because of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics may pose a substantial hazard to human health or the environment.

Hazardous Waste Treatment.  Facilities that treat hazardous waste (activity that alters the physical or chemical composition of the hazardous waste) are regulated by this program.

Aboveground Petroleum Storage.  Facilities that store petroleum products in aboveground tanks are regulated under this program.

Regulated Substances.  Facilities that handle one or more regulated substances at or above the threshold quantity are regulated under this program.  View a list of regulated substances and their threshold amounts.

Underground Storage Tanks.  Facilities that store hazardous materials or wastes in underground tanks are regulated under this program.

Chlorofluorocarbon Recycling.  Businesses that repair, install, dismantle or dispose of mobile air conditioning system where chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants are recycled must register in this program.

Medical Waste.  This program regulates businesses that generate, handle, store, transport, treat and dispose of medical waste in order to protect the public and the environment from potential infectious exposure to disease causing agents. This is accomplished through registrations and/or permits to operate.