Sacramento, CA Environmental Rules: Vehicle Idling Restrictions (2026)

010 describe as nonattainment for both federal and state ozone standards, citing EPA data that a typical diesel truck emits 144 grams per hour of nitrogen oxide while idling. 030 limits the chapter's reach to vehicles with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating over 14,000 pounds, all transport refrigeration units (TRUs), and off-road equipment rated at 50 horsepower or more -- ordinary passenger cars are outside its scope. 040 requires a covered driver to turn off the engine on stopping at a destination and bars idling beyond five consecutive minutes or five aggregate minutes in any one-hour period at a single location; off-road equipment operators face the identical five-minute caps.

050 separately bars operating a TRU within 100 feet of a dwelling unit or school while stationary, with a carve-out for the 30 minutes around cargo loading/unloading. 060) and keep compliance records for three years. 070. 080 exempts idling for traffic control devices, safety inspections, repairs, manufacturer-recommended turbo cool-down, auxiliary equipment operation, defrosters for medical necessity, driver rest-time comfort (only at a designated rest area, still capped at 100 feet from homes/schools), and buses idling up to 10 minutes before or during boarding.