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Title V Fee Calculator - Air Permit Fee Estimation & Major Source Threshold Check

Estimate annual Title V operating permit fees and check 10/25/100 ton major source thresholds

Estimate annual Title V air permit fees based on your facility's actual or potential emissions. Enter emissions by pollutant to check major source thresholds (100 tpy criteria, 10 tpy single HAP, 25 tpy combined HAP), calculate the federal minimum fee per ton, and estimate your state-specific annual permit fee. Includes fee rates (verify current rates with your state agency) for all 50 states, fee cap lookups, and a threshold proximity warning system that flags pollutants within 80% of triggering major source status.

Pro Tip: The difference between 99 and 101 tons per year of a single pollutant is not 2 tons - it is $30,000-100,000 per year in Title V permit fees, plus the cost of enhanced monitoring, semi-annual reporting, and annual compliance certifications. If you are close to a threshold, investing in emission controls to stay below it is almost always cheaper than the ongoing cost of being a major source.

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Title V Permit Fee Calculator
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How It Works

  1. Enter Emissions by Pollutant

    Input actual or potential emissions in tons per year for each criteria pollutant (NOx, SOx, PM, CO, VOC) and any hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Use results from the fuel combustion or VOC calculators if available.

  2. Select Your State

    Choose your state to load the applicable fee rate and fee structure. Some states charge per ton of actual emissions, others use potential emissions, and some have flat fees plus per-ton charges.

  3. Check Major Source Thresholds

    The calculator automatically flags any pollutant that exceeds or approaches the 100 tpy criteria pollutant threshold, 10 tpy single HAP threshold, or 25 tpy combined HAP threshold.

  4. Set Attainment Status

    If your facility is in a nonattainment area for any pollutant, select the applicable nonattainment classification. Major source thresholds drop to 10-50 tpy in serious to extreme nonattainment areas.

  5. Review Fee Estimate

    See estimated annual Title V fee, per-pollutant fee breakdown, threshold proximity warnings, and comparison to the EPA minimum fee rate. Note that some states exempt certain pollutants or cap maximum fees.

Built For

  • Environmental managers estimating annual air permit budget obligations
  • Facility planners evaluating the cost impact of exceeding major source thresholds
  • Consultants screening new projects for Title V applicability before construction
  • Plant engineers calculating the fee savings from emission reduction projects
  • Corporate environmental directors benchmarking permit costs across facilities
  • Small business owners determining if expansion will trigger major source status
  • Permit writers preparing fee calculations for annual compliance certifications

Assumptions

  • Fee rates are based on publicly available state fee schedules and the federal minimum per-ton rate.
  • Emission values entered represent actual or potential emissions as defined by the user.
  • State-specific fee structures follow the most recently published schedule available.
  • Major source thresholds use attainment-area defaults unless nonattainment is selected.
  • Fee calculations do not include one-time application fees or permit modification fees.

Limitations

  • State fee schedules change annually — always verify current rates with your state agency.
  • Does not calculate potential to emit (PTE) — user must enter pre-calculated emission values.
  • Some states exempt specific pollutants or apply fee caps not fully modeled here.
  • Nonattainment area classifications and their specific thresholds may vary by pollutant.
  • Does not estimate indirect compliance costs such as monitoring, testing, and reporting.

References

  • Clean Air Act Title V (42 USC 7661-7661f) — operating permit program requirements.
  • EPA 40 CFR Part 70 — State Operating Permit Programs, minimum fee provisions.
  • EPA Title V fee guidance memoranda and annual fee rate adjustments.
  • State-specific air quality fee schedules (varies by jurisdiction).

Frequently Asked Questions

Title V is the federal operating permit program under the Clean Air Act. Any facility that is a major source of air pollution must obtain a Title V operating permit. The permit consolidates all applicable air quality requirements into a single document and requires annual compliance certifications, regular monitoring, and record-keeping. Title V permits are renewed every 5 years and funded by annual fees paid by permit holders.
The EPA sets a minimum fee of approximately $37-40 per ton of actual emissions (adjusted annually for inflation). States can charge more than the federal minimum. Some states charge per ton of emissions, others use a combination of flat fees and per-ton charges. Most states cap the total fee per facility or exclude certain pollutants like CO2. The fee typically applies to all regulated pollutants emitted above a de minimis threshold.
In attainment areas: 100 tpy of any single criteria pollutant (NOx, SOx, CO, PM10, VOC). For HAPs: 10 tpy of any single HAP or 25 tpy of all HAPs combined. In nonattainment areas, thresholds are lower: 100 tpy (marginal), 50 tpy (moderate ozone), 25 tpy (serious ozone), and as low as 10 tpy for extreme nonattainment. These thresholds apply to potential to emit, not just actual emissions, unless you take federally enforceable limits.
Actual emissions are what your facility really emits based on operating hours, fuel use, and controls. Potential to emit (PTE) is the maximum your facility could emit running 24/7/365 at maximum capacity without controls. Major source determination uses PTE unless you accept federally enforceable permit limits (like hours of operation or fuel use caps) to keep PTE below thresholds. This is called a synthetic minor or permit-by-rule approach.
Yes. A facility can accept federally enforceable limits on operations (hours, fuel, production rates) that keep potential emissions below major source thresholds. This is called a synthetic minor permit. The limits must be practically enforceable with monitoring and record-keeping. If you violate the limits, you are retroactively a major source and subject to enforcement action for operating without a Title V permit.
Beyond the annual fee ($5,000-100,000+ depending on emissions and state), Title V requires significant compliance costs: semi-annual monitoring reports, annual compliance certifications, deviation reporting, enhanced record-keeping, and often continuous monitoring or periodic stack testing. Total compliance costs including staff time and consulting support typically run $20,000-75,000 per year for a mid-sized facility.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides fee estimates based on publicly available state and federal fee schedules. Actual fees depend on your state's specific fee structure, applicable exemptions, and emission calculation methodology. Major source determinations require engineering analysis of potential to emit. This tool does not constitute regulatory advice. Consult your state air quality agency or a qualified environmental consultant for site-specific permitting analysis.

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