Washoe County Considers New Air Quality Rules

Washoe County health officials are proposing updates to air quality regulations affecting restaurants using wood or coal for cooking.

The current rules, first adopted in 1993, do not reflect more recent air-quality updates, particularly those aimed at controlling pollution during winter inversions, when cold air traps fine particles close to the ground.

Restaurants that use wood- or coal-burning stoves release fine particles known as PM 2.5. While the emissions are small, they can accumulate during winter inversions, contributing to unhealthy air conditions.

“They emit air pollution year-round, small amounts, but it’s PM 2.5 that contributes to wintertime inversions, and that’s why they’re part of emergency episode decision-making,” officials said.

Proposed revisions would update restaurant rules to match newer emergency episode and permitting regulations. One notable change would shift affected restaurants from a costly minor source permit to a simpler general permit, reducing fees and administrative requirements.

The update would also clarify when restaurants may need to temporarily stop using wood or coal during high-pollution days, known as emergency episodes. Health officials stated restrictions would be rare and only triggered when pollution met specific thresholds based on monitoring data.

Officials are seeking input from business owners.