SCAQMD Rule 2202 is the regulation that requires large Southern California employers to reduce the emissions created by their employees’ commutes. If your worksite has 250 or more employees, this guide explains in plain English what the rule asks of you and how to stay compliant.
You’ll learn who the rule applies to, which compliance options exist, how the annual registration works, and what changed starting in 2025. Key requirements link to official South Coast AQMD sources, so your team can verify them before making decisions.
What Is SCAQMD Rule 2202?
SCAQMD Rule 2202, officially titled «On-Road Motor Vehicle Mitigation Options,» gives employers «a menu of options to reduce mobile source emissions generated from Employee commutes.» That is the stated purpose in the official text of Rule 2202.
In practice, the rule doesn’t tell your employees how to get to work. It asks you to show every year, through one of the approved options, that your worksite reduces or offsets the emissions from those commutes. The current version was amended on August 4, 2023.
What Is SCAQMD, and Is It a Government Agency?
Yes. South Coast AQMD describes itself as «the regulatory agency responsible for improving air quality» for a region home to more than 17 million people, 44% of California’s population, according to its About page. Its rules are legally binding for employers within its jurisdiction.
Who Does SCAQMD Rule 2202 Apply To?
According to the Rule 2202 text, the rule applies to any employer with 250 or more employees, full-time or part-time, at a single worksite for a consecutive six-month period, calculated as a monthly average. The count is per worksite, not across your entire company.
Once a worksite reaches that threshold, the employer must notify the District within 30 days and has 90 days to comply. Missing that window is costly: the official fee summary lists a Failure to Notify Surcharge of $1,218.46 if the employer self-reports, or $1,740.64 if South Coast AQMD identifies the worksite first.
What Area Does AQMD Cover?
South Coast AQMD’s jurisdiction includes all of Orange County and the urban portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including the Coachella Valley. If your worksite is in that area and meets the employee threshold, SCAQMD Rule 2202 applies to you, even if your headquarters is in another state.
Who Doesn’t Count as an Employee, and When to Request an Exemption
Seasonal, temporary and volunteer workers, field personnel, field construction workers and independent contractors are excluded from the count under the rule’s definition of employee. That definition can change your total, so review it carefully before assuming your worksite is in or out.
You can also request an exemption if your worksite averaged fewer than 250 employees over the previous six months, or if fewer than 33 employees report between 6:00 and 10:00 a.m. for 90 days. Special provisions apply to schools, employers in bankruptcy and some law enforcement personnel.
SCAQMD Rule 2202 Compliance Options
SCAQMD Rule 2202 doesn’t force a single path. Each worksite chooses the option that best fits its operations, budget and the data it can collect. These are the three most common routes, described in the Rule 2202 Implementation Guidelines.
ECRP: Employee Commute Reduction Program
Under SCAQMD Rule 2202, the Employee Commute Reduction Program (ECRP) uses an annual survey to measure how many employees arrive per vehicle. The result is your Average Vehicle Ridership (AVR). Targets depend on location: 1.75 in Zone 1 (downtown Los Angeles), 1.5 in Zone 2 and 1.3 in Zone 3.
What If You Miss Your AVR Target?
According to the official ECRP Guidelines, a worksite that falls short of its target can still comply by demonstrating a good faith effort with documented commute reduction strategies. We’ll cover those strategies, and the evidence each one requires, in a dedicated post. Alternatively, the worksite can make up the difference by participating in AQIP or surrendering equivalent emission credits.
ERS: Emission Reduction Strategies
With an Emission Reduction Strategy (ERS), the employer calculates its worksite’s emission reduction target and describes how it will meet it, for example through vehicle programs, emission credits or other strategies. It takes more calculation, but gives flexibility to worksites with unusual shifts or operations.
AQIP: Air Quality Investment Program
With the Air Quality Investment Program (AQIP), the third path under SCAQMD Rule 2202, the employer pays into a restricted fund, and the District selects projects that achieve equivalent emission reductions.
It requires the least internal work, but carries a cost per peak-window employee: $46.73 per year, or $129.79 for the triennial option, plus a $181.68 registration fee per worksite, according to the official fee summary. The Implementation Guidelines describe how the program works.
| Option | What you do | Internal effort | Main cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECRP | Annual AVR survey and commute reduction strategies | High | $1,121.99 (250-499 employees) or $1,500.39 (500+) per worksite (single site), plus program costs |
| ERS | Calculate the emission target and a plan to meet it | Medium to high | $787.97 per worksite (single site), plus strategies or credits |
| AQIP | Payment into a District-administered fund | Low | $46.73 per peak-window employee per year ($129.79 triennial) + $181.68 registration per worksite |
The Rule 2202 Annual Registration: What to File and When
Whichever option you choose, SCAQMD Rule 2202 requires you to register with the District every year. Registration is due on a fixed annual date for each worksite, which changes only if the District approves it in writing. That’s why different locations of the same company can have different due dates.
Each registration carries a filing fee. According to the official fee summary effective July 1, 2026, a single-site ECRP costs $1,121.99 for worksites with 250 to 499 employees and $1,500.39 for 500 or more. Filing late adds a 50% late fee.
What Changed in SCAQMD Rule 2202 Starting in 2025
The 2023 amendment introduced three new registration requirements that took effect on January 1, 2025: the worksite’s business type/classification, the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) of employees arriving at the worksite, and information on telecommuting practices.
In addition, if your worksite will conduct and submit an AVR survey, it must designate an Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) who has completed South Coast AQMD’s training and certification course. The District publishes its ETC training schedule every six months.
Why the SCAQMD Rule 2202 Changes Matter for Your Team
Calculating VMT by commute mode and documenting telework adds work to a process many companies still manage in spreadsheets. If your last registration was filed before 2025, your next submittal will include new sections that are worth preparing early.
A Managed Service for SCAQMD Rule 2202
Uflou’s mobility platform already runs in production in Spain, managing employee commute data and government-facing reporting for enterprise mobility plans across eight sectors and EV incentive programs for Stellantis and Repsol. We’re now bringing that same engine to Southern California employers as a managed Rule 2202 service.
Instead of handing your team another tool, we run the annual cycle with you and deliver a compliance-ready report:
- Worksite and employee roster setup
- The AVR survey, with response-rate tracking
- VMT by commute mode and telecommuting data, as required since 2025
- Documented good faith strategies, organized by category
- A completed registration package, single-site or multi-site, with reminders well ahead of each due date
Your ETC reviews and submits. Uflou does the heavy lifting.
SCAQMD Rule 2202 FAQs
Does SCAQMD Rule 2202 Apply per Company or per Worksite?
Per worksite. What matters is having 250 or more employees at a single worksite for six consecutive months, calculated as a monthly average. A company with several locations may have some sites that are covered and others that aren’t.
What Happens If My Worksite Doesn’t File Its Annual Registration?
Filing late adds a 50% late fee, and South Coast AQMD has issued Notices of Violation to worksites that failed to submit their annual registration. If your worksite has fallen behind, the best move is to get back on track quickly with a clear plan.
Is Uflou Part of SCAQMD?
No. Uflou is an independent platform by Murarte NA, Inc. and is not affiliated with South Coast AQMD. All official information about the rule is available on SCAQMD’s Rule 2202 page.
Book a Free SCAQMD Rule 2202 Consultation
Not sure which option fits your worksite, or when your next registration is due? Book a free 30-minute consultation with our team. We’ll review your worksite size, location and current compliance status, with no commitment.
Uflou is not affiliated with South Coast AQMD. This guide is for informational purposes and does not replace the official rule text or guidance from the District.
