Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP)

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Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP)

The Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP) is a statewide program created by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to register portable equipment as an alternative to securing permits from local air quality control districts. PERP registered equipment may operate throughout the state without obtaining permits to operate from any of California's 35 air quality management or air pollution control districts.

Generally portable engines over 50 hp and portable equipment units that emit particulate matter cannot be operated within the jurisdiction of the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District (MDAQMD) without either an MDAQMD Permit to Operate, or PERP Registration.

Whether registered under PERP or permitted by MDAQMD, the responsibility for inspection of portable equipment and enforcement of applicable clean air requirements resides with MDAQMD.

PERP Advisories:

Local MDAQMD permits are required for all equipment (not otherwise exempt under Rule 219) operating as part of stationary source, including portable equipment registered by the State of California.
Read this advisory to learn more.

PERP Inspections and Notifications:

Inspection:

For PERP units with MDAQMD listed as the home district, Within 45 days after the date of initial issuance or renewal of a registration, the owner or operator shall contact the home district to arrange for inspection of the registered engine or equipment unit.

To request an inspection please use: PERP INSPECTION FORM

Notification:

For PERP units that will be at a location within the MDAQMD boundaries for more than 5 days, notification to MDAQMD is required within 2 days of commencing operations.

To notify please use: PERP NOTIFICATION FORM

Rescheduling:

In the event that an arranged inspection of a registered engine or registered equipment unit must be rescheduled due to unforeseen circumstances, the owner or operator is required to:

notify the MDAQMD of the cancellation no later than 24 hours prior to the scheduled inspection; and
reschedule the inspection no later than 90 days after the initially scheduled inspection.

Unreasonable Actions:

The MDAQMD will make every reasonable effort to accommodate requested inspection dates; however, it is essential that the owner or operator put forth equal effort to ensure that the scheduled inspection occurs as planned. This includes ensuring that the equipment identified in the inspection request is available at the location, on the date, and at the time specified in the request. Further, if an "in-field" inspection has been arranged, the equipment must be in operation.

Any unreasonable actions on the part of the owner or operator that prevent the inspection from occurring within the specified time frame will be deemed a violation. Actions taken by the owner or operator that could be deemed "unreasonable" include, but are not limited to:

failing to respond to the district correspondences or other contracts made to schedule the inspection;
failing to ensure that the registered engine or equipment unit is in operation for arranged "in-field inspections," where the district has provided advance notification to the owner or operator that the registered engine or equipment unit is required to be observed in operation.

Register in PERP:

Visit the ARB's PERP Webpage to learn more.

For more information about PERP inspections, contact the MDAQMD by phone at 760.245.1661 or perp@mdaqmd.ca.gov.