Learn who must comply with WAIRE Rule 2305, key reporting deadlines, compliance options, and how to access $73.1 million in available grant funding.
The Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions (WAIRE) Program was established through South Coast AQMD Rule 2305 to reduce air pollution associated with warehouse operations and goods movement throughout Southern California. Adopted in 2021, the rule was developed in response to growth in warehouse development and increasing truck traffic serving distribution and logistics facilities across the region.
WAIRE is one of California's most significant warehouse compliance programs, requiring certain warehouse operators to track truck activity, evaluate emissions reduction measures, and meet annual compliance obligations. For warehouse owners, operators, and environmental managers, understanding whether a facility is subject to the rule and what compliance obligations apply is an important first step.
Who Must Comply with WAIRE Requirements?
The WAIRE Program generally applies to warehouse facilities within South Coast AQMD's jurisdiction that contain 100,000 square feet or more of indoor floor space in a single building.
Warehouse operators that utilize 50,000 square feet or more of warehouse space within an applicable facility are generally responsible for complying with Rule 2305 requirements. Depending on facility ownership and operational arrangements, both warehouse operators and property owners may have separate reporting or notification responsibilities under the program.
Facilities subject to WAIRE must generally track annual truck activity, calculate their WAIRE Points Compliance Obligation (WPCO), and satisfy that obligation through approved compliance measures, mitigation fees, or a combination of both.
WAIRE Reporting Requirements and Key Compliance Deadlines
The WAIRE Program includes several reporting and notification requirements for warehouse owners and operators, including:
- Annual WAIRE Reports
- Warehouse Operations Notifications (WONs)
- Initial Site Information Reports (ISIRs)
One of the most important compliance deadlines is the January 31 Annual WAIRE Report deadline, which requires facilities to report truck activity and document compliance actions from the previous calendar year.
Reports and applicable fees are submitted through the WAIRE Program Online Portal. Because truck activity tracking, compliance calculations, and supporting documentation often require coordination across multiple departments, many organizations begin preparing well in advance of the annual reporting deadline.
WAIRE Compliance Options: WAIRE Points, Menu Actions, and Mitigation Fees
Warehouse operators can satisfy their WAIRE compliance obligation through several approved pathways, including:
- Implementing actions from the WAIRE Menu
- Developing and obtaining approval for a Custom WAIRE Plan
- Paying a mitigation fee
- Using a combination of menu actions and mitigation fees
Examples of WAIRE Menu actions include:
- Deploying zero-emission trucks
- Using zero-emission yard trucks
- Installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure
- Installing hydrogen fueling infrastructure
- Supporting transportation refrigeration unit (TRU) electrification
- Installing on-site solar energy systems
The most effective compliance strategy often depends on facility operations, truck activity levels, capital improvement plans, and anticipated mitigation costs. Many operators evaluate emissions-reduction projects alongside mitigation fees to determine the most practical and cost-effective approach.
Grant Funding Available Through the WAIRE Mitigation Program
In addition to compliance pathways available under Rule 2305, South Coast AQMD has opened its first WAIRE Mitigation Program funding cycle.
The WAIRE Mitigation Program uses mitigation fees collected under Rule 2305 to fund projects that reduce emissions associated with warehouse operations and goods movement. Approximately $73.1 million is currently available for eligible projects throughout Southern California.
Funding is available for:
- New zero-emission Class 4-8 trucks
- Zero-emission yard trucks
- Electric vehicle charging infrastructure
- Hydrogen fueling infrastructure
Eligible applicants may include warehouse operators, fleet operators, and charging or fueling infrastructure providers serving warehouse facilities, subject to program eligibility requirements.
WAIRE Grant Application Deadline and Eligibility Requirements
Grant applications are currently open and must be submitted by 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time on December 15, 2026.
Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to funding availability, geographic requirements, and program eligibility criteria. Organizations considering fleet electrification or charging and fueling infrastructure projects may benefit from evaluating eligibility requirements and compiling supporting documentation well before the application deadline.
How Third-Party Environmental Consultants Can Support WAIRE Compliance
For many warehouse operators, WAIRE compliance decisions are closely tied to fleet replacement planning, facility improvements, and infrastructure investments. Because grant-funded projects may also support long-term compliance objectives, organizations often evaluate funding opportunities alongside annual reporting requirements and future compliance obligations.
A qualified third-party environmental consultant can assist with:
- WAIRE applicability assessments
- Truck trip data collection and validation
- WPCO calculations
- Annual WAIRE Report preparation
- Compliance strategy evaluations
- Mitigation planning
- Grant eligibility reviews
- Grant application support
- EV charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure planning
For organizations managing multiple warehouse locations, consultant support can also help standardize reporting processes, identify compliance risks, and evaluate opportunities to reduce future compliance costs.
Planning for Upcoming WAIRE Compliance and Funding Deadlines
With annual WAIRE reporting due each January and approximately $73.1 million in grant funding currently available through the WAIRE Mitigation Program, warehouse operators should begin evaluating compliance obligations, truck activity data, planned fleet investments, and potential funding opportunities well before applicable deadlines.
Early planning can help organizations identify cost-effective compliance strategies, pursue available funding opportunities, and better align operational, environmental, and capital investment decisions.
