Choosing among the Rule 2202 compliance options is one of the most important decisions your worksite has to make each year. You need to decide how much internal work you take on, what data you need and how much you pay. We’ve put together a guide that compares ECRP, ERS and AQIP from start to finish so you can choose with confidence.
If the rule is new to you, you can start by reading our guide to SCAQMD Rule 2202. It’s free, with no sign-up required, and explains who is covered, how the annual registration works and what changed in 2025.
Why Rule 2202 compliance options are important
The rule gives employers «options to reduce mobile source emissions generated from employee commutes,» according to the official text of Rule 2202. There is no single right answer: the best of the Rule 2202 compliance options depends on your workforce, your budget and the data you can collect.
On the 2025 registration form, the employer checks one program type: AQIP, Emission Reduction Strategy (ERS) or Employee Commute Reduction Program (ECRP). ECRP also comes in three variants: ECRP Offset, ECRP High AVR and ECRP AVR Improvement.
Rule 2202 compliance options at a glance
Let’s break it down in the table below:
| Option | What you do | Internal effort | Main cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECRP | Annual AVR survey, VMT reporting and commute strategies | High | Filing fee and program costs |
| ERS | Calculate an emission reduction target and a plan to meet it | Medium to high | Filing fee and strategies or credits |
| AQIP | Pay into a fund administered by the District | Low | Fee per peak-window employee |
ECRP: Employee Commute Reduction Program
Under ECRP, your Employee Transportation Coordinator surveys employees who report to work between 6:00 and 10:00 a.m. and calculates your Average Vehicle Ridership (AVR). The target depends on the zone: 1.75 in Zone 1, 1.5 in Zone 2 and 1.3 in Zone 3.
If you miss the target, you can still comply by showing a good faith effort: at least five strategies in each of three categories, per the ECRP guidelines. You can also make up the difference through AQIP or by surrendering equivalent emission credits. More in our guide on how to calculate AVR.
ECRP variants: Offset, High AVR and AVR Improvement
With ECRP Offset, the gap between your AVR and the target is covered through AQIP. ECRP High AVR is for worksites already above target: it has a lower fee and no strategy pages, but it is not available in the first year. ECRP AVR Improvement does not require strategy pages either.
ERS: Emission Reduction Strategies
Under ERS, the employer calculates the worksite’s emission reduction target and documents how it will meet it, with strategies, vehicle programs or emission credits. The Implementation Guidelines explain the calculation. It fits those of your worksites where an AVR survey is hard to run.
AQIP: Air Quality Investment Program
With AQIP you pay into a restricted fund, and the District funds projects that achieve equivalent reductions. You keep employment and payment records, but you do not have to demonstrate reductions. It is the lowest-effort path and needs no AVR survey.
What each of the Rule 2202 compliance options costs
According to the official fee summary effective July 1, 2026, a single-site ECRP costs $1,121.99 for 250 to 499 employees and $1,500.39 for 500 or more. A single-site ERS costs $787.97. The AQIP filing fee is $181.68 per worksite.
On top of that fee, the same summary states that you must pay $46.73 per peak-window employee for the one-year option and $129.79 for the three-year option. With 400 peak-window employees, the one-year option would total $18,692. Also keep in mind that filing late adds 50% to the applicable fee.
How to choose among the Rule 2202 compliance options
- Choose ECRP if many employees already carpool, ride transit or telecommute, and you can run a solid survey.
- Choose ERS if you have shift work or unusual operations and the resources to calculate emissions.
- Choose AQIP if you want the least internal work and can absorb a per-employee cost.
- Review it every year: headcount, telecommuting and fees change, and so does your best option.
Whatever you choose, the registration must include the business type, VMT and telecommuting information required since January 1, 2025. Across all Rule 2202 compliance options, many companies underestimate that work, especially the AVR survey and VMT by commute mode.
How Uflou helps you choose among the Rule 2202 compliance options and, most importantly, comply
Uflou is a managed service: we review with you which option fits your worksite’s data, then we run the annual cycle for you, from the AVR survey and VMT by mode to good faith strategies and a compliance-ready registration package. Your ETC reviews and submits.
FAQ about Rule 2202 compliance options
Can I switch compliance options from one year to the next?
Yes. The program type is chosen at each annual registration, so you can move from ECRP to AQIP, or the other way around, when your situation changes. Just keep in mind that ECRP High AVR is not available in the first year.
Which of the Rule 2202 compliance options is the cheapest?
It depends on your workforce. AQIP has the lowest filing fee, but it adds a cost per peak-window employee that grows with headcount. ECRP and ERS have higher fees and no per-employee charge, though they take staff hours and program costs.
Do all options require a survey?
No. Only ECRP is based on an AVR survey. Employers that choose AQIP or ERS do not survey, although every registration must report VMT and telecommuting. Without a survey, VMT is estimated from anonymized employee ZIP codes.
Get help choosing among the Rule 2202 compliance options
Want us to review your worksite’s situation? Book a free 30-minute consultation with an expert from our team. We will look at your worksite’s size, location and current compliance status, with no commitment.
Uflou is not affiliated with South Coast AQMD. This article is for information only and does not replace the official rule text or District guidance.