State law file · verified June 2026
California idling law: the 5 minutes rule
Diesel-fueled commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 lbs — including buses and sleeper-berth trucks — may not idle the primary engine more than 5 minutes at any location (13 CCR §2485, CARB’s Airborne Toxic Control Measure).
Exceptions that actually matter
- Vehicles stuck in traffic or queues beyond the driver’s control
- Approved auxiliary power units / idle-reduction systems in use instead of the main engine
- Emergency and military vehicles, and specified operational situations in the regulation
Penalties
Violations carry civil penalties under the Health & Safety Code penalty provisions referenced in 13 CCR §2485; CARB enforcement guidance describes fines starting at $300 per violation.
Who enforces it — and how to report
California Air Resources Board (CARB), peace officers statewide, and air districts (e.g. San Joaquin Valley APCD).
CARB accepts idling complaints by phone (1-800-END-SMOG) and through its online complaint system; local air districts also take complaints. A separate rule (13 CCR §2480) restricts school bus idling.
Can you get paid for reporting in California?
No. California has no citizen reward — complaints are civic, not paid. The only major program that pays complainants is New York City's idling bounty, where citizens keep 25% of collected fines and our enforcement data shows what that produces: hundreds of thousands of cases and an estimated eight-figure sum paid to filers. If a paid program launches in California, this page will say so.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a truck idle in California?
Five minutes. CARB’s Airborne Toxic Control Measure (13 CCR §2485) bars diesel commercial vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVWR from idling the main engine more than 5 minutes at any location, with limited exceptions such as traffic and approved auxiliary power units.
Can you get paid for reporting an idling truck in California?
No. CARB takes idling complaints by phone and online, but California has no citizen reward. New York City is the only major program that pays complainants — 25% of collected fines.
Sources
This summary was checked against the following official sources on the date shown above. Laws change — verify before relying on specifics.
- 13 CCR §2485 — regulation text (Cornell LII)
- CARB — ATCM to Limit Vehicle Idling (program page)
- CARB — “California’s 5-minute Idling Rules are Enforced” fact sheet (PDF)
Other state law files
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General legal information, not legal advice. Statutes and penalty schedules summarized from the sources above as of June 2026.