California Idle Reduction Laws and Incentives
State Incentives
Emissions Reductions Grants
The Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program provides incentive-based funding for the incremental cost of purchasing cleaner than required engines and equipment. Eligible projects include heavy-duty fleet modernization, light-duty vehicle replacements and retrofits, idle reduction, and the purchase of cleaner off-road vehicles and equipment. The Carl Moyer Program provides funds for significant near-term reductions in nitrogen oxide emissions, reactive organic gases, and particulate matter emissions. Contact local air districts for more information about grant funding availability and distribution from the Carl Moyer Program. (Reference California Health and Safety Code 44280)
Heavy-Duty Vehicle Emissions Reduction Grants
The Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program provides funding for projects that reduce emissions from freight movement in the state, including but not limited to heavy-duty truck replacement, repower, or retrofit; and truck stop electrification infrastructure development. Contact local air districts for more information about funding availability and distribution. (Reference California Health and Safety Code 39625-39627.5)
State Laws and Regulations
Heavy-Duty Truck Idle Reduction Requirements
A driver of a diesel-fueled vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of more than 10,000 pounds is not permitted to idle the vehicle's primary engine for more than five minutes at any location, and is not allowed to operate a diesel-fueled auxiliary power system (APS) on the vehicle for more than five minutes when located within 100 feet of a restricted area. Exceptions do apply in certain situations and for certain vehicles. Any internal combustion APS used in California must comply with applicable state off-road and/or federal non-road emission standards and test procedures for its fuel type and power category to ensure that emissions are not exceeding the emissions of a truck engine operating at idle.
Model Year 2008 and newer heavy-duty diesel engines must be equipped with non-programmable engine shutdown systems that automatically shuts down the engine after five minutes of idling or optionally meets a stringent nitrogen oxide idling emission standard. Operators of trucks equipped with sleeper berths are required to manually shut down the engine when idling more than five minutes at any location within California and are subject to fines for violation. The California Department of Motor Vehicles will not register, renew, or transfer registration for any vehicle operator who has received a violation until the violation is cleared.
(Reference California Code of Regulations Title 13, Section 2485)
School Bus Idle Reduction Requirement
A driver of a school bus is required to turn off the engine upon stopping at a school, or within 100 feet of a school, and must not turn the engine on more than 30 seconds before beginning to depart from the location. Additionally, the driver may not allow the vehicle to idle at any location greater than 100 feet from a school for more than five consecutive minutes, or for periods totally more than five minutes in any one hour. This requirement also applies to transit and commercial vehicles operating within 100 feet of a school. Exemptions apply for necessary idling while stopped in traffic, at traffic signals, and at the direction of law enforcement personnel. (Reference California Code of Regulations Title 13, Section 2480)
Heavy-Duty Idle Reduction Requirement - Sacramento
The City of Sacramento prohibits the idling of all heavy-duty on-road vehicles and all heavy-duty off-road equipment for more than five minutes at a given location. Vehicles, off-road equipment, and transport refrigeration units are also prohibited from extended idling within 100 feet of a residence or school. (Reference Sacramento City Code 8.116)
