How to Fill Out the Virginia DEQ Air Permit Application (Form 7) — With Examples + FAQs

Virginia Form 7, the Application for New Source Review & State Operating Permits, is the form a business files with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) when it wants to build a new source of air pollution, add equipment, or change a process that releases regulated air pollutants. Any facility that will emit pollutants above set limits must get this permit before it starts building or operating. The form tells DEQ what you will release, how much, and how you will keep those releases under control.

Getting Form 7 right matters because building first and permitting later can stop your project cold and cost you money. DEQ issues these permits through its regional offices, and a single missed emissions calculation or a blank box can push your review back by months. Across Virginia, air permit reviews can take anywhere from a few weeks for simple changes to well over a year for complex sources, and a Minor New Source Review (NSR) application fee alone can run $4,240 to $7,066 in 2026. This guide walks you through the 2026 version of Form 7, line by line, so you file it once and file it right.

Here is what you will learn in this guide:

  • 📋 What Form 7 is, who must file it, and the law that requires it
  • 🧮 How to gather your emissions data and documents before you open the form
  • ✍️ How to fill out every section of Form 7, box by box, with real entries
  • 👤 Three full filled-out examples from real-world Virginia scenarios
  • 💸 The exact fees, filing steps, deadlines, and mistakes that sink applications

What Form 7 Is and Who Must File It

Form 7 is Virginia DEQ’s main application for a stationary source that needs a New Source Review (NSR) or State Operating Permit under the state Air Pollution Control Law. A “stationary source” is fixed equipment that releases air pollution, such as a boiler, a paint booth, a generator, a kiln, or a process vent. You file Form 7 when you plan to build a new source, add or change equipment at an existing source, or take an enforceable limit to avoid a bigger permit.

You must file if your facility’s potential to emit (PTE) crosses the trigger levels in the rules. Potential to emit means the most a source could release running full time at full capacity, before you subtract any control equipment in some cases. The form covers Minor NSR permits under 9VAC5 Chapter 80, Article 6, as well as State Operating Permits under Article 5. Major sources that cross federal thresholds use other forms and articles, but Form 7 is the workhorse for the many small and mid-size sources in the state.

DEQ requires this form under the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law, which gives the agency power to control air pollution. If you ignore the requirement and build without a permit, DEQ can issue a notice of violation, levy civil penalties, and order you to stop work. The deadline is simple in spirit: you apply and get your permit before you begin actual construction or operation, not after.

A common misconception is that small businesses are exempt. Many owners think a single generator or one spray booth is too small to matter. In truth, the trigger is the pollutant amount, not the company size, and a small shop with a high-output coating line can blow past the limit fast. When in doubt, call your regional air permit manager before you spend a dollar on equipment.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Form 7 asks for technical data you cannot guess at the last minute. Pull these items together first so the form goes faster and your numbers hold up under DEQ review. A missing item is the top reason an application gets returned as incomplete.

  • Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN). DEQ uses this to tie the permit to the right legal entity, and a wrong number routes your file to the wrong record.
  • Facility physical address and county/city. This sets which regional office reviews you, and the wrong address sends your file to the wrong reviewer.
  • List of every emission unit. You need make, model, size, and capacity for each piece of equipment, because the permit is built unit by unit and a missing unit is left out of your coverage.
  • Maximum design capacity and hours of operation. These drive your potential-to-emit math, and guessing low here is treated as understating emissions.
  • Emission factors. Use EPA AP-42 factors or manufacturer data, since DEQ checks your factors against these published sources.
  • Material throughput data. Gallons of coating, tons of aggregate, or fuel use per year feed your calculations, and without them DEQ cannot verify your totals.
  • Proposed control devices. Baghouses, scrubbers, or catalytic units lower your emissions, and leaving them off raises your numbers and your fee.
  • Plot plan or site map. This shows stack locations and property lines, which DEQ needs for its modeling and setback checks.
  • Application fee payment. The matching 2026 Application Fee Form and check must travel with the application, or the clock does not start.
  • Suitability and Value Form. This local land-use certification rides with Form 7, and a missing one stalls the review.

If you cannot find an emission factor for an odd process, do not leave it blank. Mark it and explain your method in a cover note, because DEQ would rather see a documented estimate than a hole in the data.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

You download Form 7 directly from the DEQ Air Permit Application Forms page. The page lists the current “2026 Form 7 Application,” its matching “2026 Form 7 Instructions,” and the “Suitability and Value Form” you must include. The forms are Microsoft Word documents, so you can type your answers right into them rather than printing and writing by hand.

Always grab the 2026 version if you are filing during the 2026 calendar year, because DEQ updates the fee schedule and some fields each January. The application fee form is valid only from 1/1/2026 to 12/31/2026, and using last year’s fee form can lead to an underpayment that holds your file. If you need a PDF instead of Word, the page tells you to contact DEQ staff to request one.

Source-specific versions exist for common industries, and using the right one saves time. Asphalt plants use Form 7A, crematories use Form 7B, and concrete batch plants use Form 7C. These mirror Form 7 but add fields tuned to that industry, so a concrete plant that files plain Form 7 may be asked to refile on 7C.

A frequent misconception is that any saved copy will do. Filers reuse a Form 7 from a past project and submit an outdated layout. DEQ keys its review to the current form, so download a fresh copy each time rather than recycling an old file.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form 7 Line by Line

Form 7 is organized into a cover application and a series of supporting sections and attachments. Work top to bottom, and do not skip a field even when it looks obvious. Below, each major section gets its own walkthrough. Sample entries are shown in italics so you can tell them apart from instructions.

Section 1: Facility (Source) Name and Mailing Address

This field asks for the legal name of the facility and where DEQ should mail official notices. Enter the exact registered business name, then the full mailing address with street, city, state, and ZIP. Write the name as it appears on your state business registration, not a nickname or “doing business as” label unless that is the legal name.

For example, Blue Ridge Coatings, LLC enters 1450 Industrial Park Drive, Roanoke, VA 24019 as its mailing address.

If your mailing address differs from the plant’s physical location, use the mailing address here and put the physical site in the location section. A common mistake is entering a parent company’s headquarters name when the permit belongs to a single plant, which ties the permit to the wrong entity and confuses future renewals. Many filers wrongly believe the facility name can be casual; DEQ prints this exact name on the permit, so an error follows you for the life of the source.

Section 2: Facility Physical Location

This field asks where the equipment actually sits, which may differ from your mailing address. Enter the street address, city or county, and ZIP, plus latitude and longitude if you have them. Use the real on-the-ground location, because this sets your regional office and feeds DEQ’s air quality modeling.

For example, Blue Ridge Coatings enters 1450 Industrial Park Drive, Roanoke, VA 24019, Roanoke City, served by the DEQ Blue Ridge Regional Office.

If your site has no street number yet because it is new construction, give the nearest road, the parcel ID, and GPS coordinates. A common mistake is listing a P.O. Box here, which DEQ rejects because a box is not a physical location and the file cannot be assigned. People wrongly assume location only matters for mail; it actually decides which staff review you and which air quality area rules apply.

Section 3: Responsible Official and Contact Person

This field asks who legally stands behind the application and who DEQ should call with questions. List the responsible official, usually an owner, officer, or plant manager, with title, phone, and email, and list a day-to-day contact if different. The responsible official must be a person with authority to bind the company.

For example, Maria Delgado, Plant Manager, is the responsible official, and James Okafor, Environmental Consultant, is the contact person.

If you hire a consultant to prepare the form, the consultant can be the contact, but the responsible official must still be a company officer. A common mistake is naming a junior staffer as the responsible official, which can void the certification because that person cannot legally bind the firm. Many believe the consultant can sign as the official; DEQ requires the company’s own authorized person on the certification.

Section 4: Type of Application and Permit Action Requested

This field asks what you want DEQ to do: issue a new permit, amend an existing one, or convert a registration. Check the box that matches your project and write the existing permit or registration number if you have one. Match this to your real situation, because it sets the fee and the review path.

For example, Blue Ridge Coatings checks New Minor NSR Permit because it is adding a new coating line.

If you are both adding equipment and changing an old unit, you may need to check more than one action and explain in a cover note. A common mistake is checking “amendment” when the change is large enough to need a full new permit, which forces a restart and a new fee. People often think any change is an “amendment”; major additions can trigger a full Minor NSR review instead.

Section 5: Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) / NAICS Code

This field asks for the code that describes your business activity. Enter the NAICS code (or SIC code if requested) that best fits your primary operation. Pick the code for what the plant actually makes or does, since DEQ uses it to match applicable rules.

For example, a concrete batch plant enters NAICS 327320, Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing.

If your facility does two things, list the code for the dominant activity and note the second in the description. A common mistake is copying a code from an unrelated business or guessing, which can route your file under the wrong industry standards. Filers wrongly think the code is just paperwork; it actually drives which emission standards DEQ applies to your units.

Section 6: Emission Unit Inventory

This is the heart of Form 7. The field asks you to list every piece of equipment that releases air pollution, each with an ID, description, make, model, and maximum capacity. Build a row for each unit, give it a short ID like EU-1, and describe it plainly. Be complete, because any unit left off is not covered by the permit and operating it later is a violation.

For example, Blue Ridge Coatings lists EU-1, Spray Coating Booth, ABC Model 200, 12 gal/hr, and EU-2, Natural Gas Curing Oven, 2.0 MMBtu/hr.

If you have small “insignificant” units, list them anyway and mark them as such rather than dropping them, because DEQ decides what counts as insignificant, not you. A common mistake is forgetting backup or rarely used equipment, which leaves it unpermitted and exposed to enforcement. Many filers think idle standby units do not count; standby generators and seldom-used lines still have potential to emit and belong on the list.

Section 7: Potential to Emit (PTE) and Emission Calculations

This field asks for the maximum amount of each regulated pollutant your source could release per year, in tons. For each unit and pollutant, show the throughput, the emission factor, and the math that yields tons per year. Use AP-42 factors or manufacturer data and assume maximum operation unless you request an enforceable limit. This number sets your permit class and fee, so it must be careful and traceable.

For example, Blue Ridge Coatings calculates 8.4 tons per year of VOC from its coating booth using gallons of coating times the VOC content per gallon.

If you want to stay under a threshold, you can request an enforceable limit on hours or throughput, which lowers your PTE on paper. A common mistake is using actual expected use instead of maximum capacity, which understates PTE and can later be called a permit violation. People wrongly believe PTE means what they plan to run; it means the most the equipment could run under physical and legal limits.

Section 8: Air Pollution Control Equipment

This field asks what devices you use to cut emissions before they reach the air. Describe each control, such as a baghouse, scrubber, or catalytic oxidizer, and give its design efficiency and which units it serves. Tie each control to its emission unit, because DEQ credits control only when it is documented and enforceable.

For example, a concrete plant lists a fabric filter (baghouse) at 99% control efficiency on its cement silo vent.

If a control device is shared by several units, say so and list all units it serves. A common mistake is claiming a control efficiency higher than the manufacturer’s rating, which DEQ rejects and which forces a recalculation of your PTE. Many think listing a control is optional bragging; it directly lowers your permitted emissions and sometimes your fee, so it pays to document it well.

Section 9: Stack and Release Point Parameters

This field asks for the physical details of each stack or vent: height, diameter, exit temperature, and flow rate. Fill in each release point with measured or design values from the equipment data sheets. These numbers feed DEQ’s air dispersion modeling, so accuracy here affects whether your project passes the ambient air check.

For example, EU-2’s curing oven stack is listed at 25 feet tall, 1.5 feet diameter, 300°F exit temperature.

If a unit vents indoors or through a general roof vent, describe that honestly rather than inventing a stack. A common mistake is rounding stack height up to look better, which skews the model and can trigger a rejection when DEQ checks the design drawings. Filers often think stack data is minor detail; short or hot stacks can fail modeling and force costly redesigns, so the real numbers matter.

Section 10: Compliance Demonstration and Monitoring

This field asks how you will prove you stay within your limits over time. Describe your planned recordkeeping, monitoring, and any testing, such as logging coating use or tracking fuel burned. Match your monitoring to each limit you requested, because a limit with no way to track it is not enforceable and DEQ may reject it.

For example, Blue Ridge Coatings commits to monthly VOC usage logs to show it stays under its 8.4 ton VOC limit.

If DEQ guidance now calls for a maintenance and readiness testing schedule, include that schedule with your application. A common mistake is requesting a tight limit with no tracking method, which leaves the limit unenforceable and invites a tougher condition. People assume monitoring is something to set up after the permit issues; DEQ wants the plan in the application itself.

Section 11: Suitability and Value Form (Local Certification)

This attached field asks the local government to confirm your project fits local zoning and land-use plans. Complete the Suitability and Value Form that ships with Form 7 and get the proper local official to certify it. Submit it with the application, because DEQ will not deem your file complete without it.

For example, Roanoke City certifies that Blue Ridge Coatings’ site is zoned for light industry on the Suitability and Value Form.

If your locality is slow to sign, start this early, since you cannot control the local calendar and the permit cannot proceed without it. A common mistake is mailing Form 7 and planning to “send the suitability form later,” which stops the review at intake. Many believe DEQ handles local zoning; it does not, and the burden is on you to secure the local certification.

Section 12: Certification and Signature

This final field asks the responsible official to swear the information is true and complete. The responsible official signs and dates the certification by hand or by accepted electronic signature, with title printed below. This signature carries legal weight, because a false certification can bring civil and criminal penalties.

For example, Maria Delgado, Plant Manager, signs and dates the certification 06/03/2026.

If the responsible official is out of town, do not have someone sign their name; use a properly delegated official instead. A common mistake is leaving the date blank or having the consultant sign, which voids the certification and forces a resubmittal. People wrongly think the signature is a formality; it is a sworn legal statement, and DEQ treats errors here as serious.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

Below are three common Virginia filers carried through Form 7 from start to finish. Each table shows the main sections and what that filer enters.

Scenario 1: Maria Delgado — Small Coatings Manufacturer Adding a Spray Booth (Minor NSR)

Form Section What Maria Enters
Facility Name & Mailing Address Blue Ridge Coatings, LLC, 1450 Industrial Park Drive, Roanoke, VA 24019
Physical Location 1450 Industrial Park Drive, Roanoke City (Blue Ridge Regional Office)
Responsible Official Maria Delgado, Plant Manager
Type of Application New Minor NSR Permit (Article 6)
NAICS Code 325510, Paint and Coating Manufacturing
Emission Unit Inventory EU-1 Spray Coating Booth; EU-2 Natural Gas Curing Oven
Potential to Emit 8.4 tons/year VOC from coating use
Control Equipment Dry filter on booth exhaust, 90% PM control
Application Fee $7,066 Minor NSR permit fee for 2026
Certification Signed Maria Delgado, 06/03/2026

Scenario 2: Carlos Rivera — Concrete Batch Plant Using Form 7C

Form Section What Carlos Enters
Facility Name & Mailing Address Rivera Ready-Mix, Inc., 22 Quarry Road, Manassas, VA 20109
Physical Location 22 Quarry Road, Prince William County (Northern Regional Office)
Responsible Official Carlos Rivera, President
Type of Application New Minor NSR Permit, Concrete Batch (Form 7C)
NAICS Code 327320, Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
Emission Unit Inventory Cement silo, weigh hopper, conveyor, truck load-out
Potential to Emit 11 tons/year PM10 before controls
Control Equipment Fabric filter (baghouse) at 99% on silo vents
Application Fee $4,240 synthetic minor Minor NSR fee for 2026
Certification Signed Carlos Rivera, 06/03/2026

Scenario 3: Janet Cho — Data Center Emergency Generators (Minor NSR / Form 540 Option)

Form Section What Janet Enters
Facility Name & Mailing Address Dominion Edge Data Center, 500 Server Lane, Ashburn, VA 20147
Physical Location 500 Server Lane, Loudoun County (Northern Regional Office)
Responsible Official Janet Cho, Director of Facilities
Type of Application New Minor NSR Permit for diesel generators
NAICS Code 518210, Data Processing and Hosting
Emission Unit Inventory 12 diesel emergency generators, 2.5 MW each
Potential to Emit NOx and PM limited by capped run hours
Control Equipment Tier-rated engines; limited to 100 test hours/year
Application Fee $7,066 Minor NSR permit fee for 2026
Certification Signed Janet Cho, 06/03/2026

Beyond these three, picture Tom Bennett, who runs a small asphalt plant and files Form 7A instead of plain Form 7, and Aisha Patel, who manages a crematory and files Form 7B. Both follow the same flow but use the industry-tuned version that matches their equipment.

How to File the Completed Form 7

Virginia DEQ issues air permits through its regional offices, so you file your completed Form 7 with the regional office that serves your facility’s location, not a single central address. Find your county or city on the regional office map first, then send the full package to that office. The package includes Form 7, the Suitability and Value Form, your emission calculations, and the matching fee form and payment.

You can submit by mail or, in many regions, by email to the regional air permit manager. For mail, send the signed application and a check for the fee to the regional office street address listed for your area. For email, send the Word or PDF files to the regional air permit manager and follow up on how to pay the fee, since some offices accept electronic payment while others want a mailed check.

For the 2026 calendar year, the application fees are $7,066 for a Minor NSR permit subject to Title V thresholds, $4,240 for a synthetic minor Minor NSR permit, and $35,334 for a state major permit under Article 6. Sources classified as “true minor” do not pay an application fee. Accepted payment is usually a check payable to the Treasurer of Virginia, mailed with the 2026 Application Fee Form.

Processing time varies widely. A simple amendment may take weeks, while a complex new source can take many months, and DEQ posts target schedules on the Virginia Permit Transparency site. Always keep proof of filing: a certified mail receipt, a sent-email confirmation, and a copy of the cashed check. That proof shows the date your clock started if a dispute arises later.

What Happens After You File

After DEQ receives your Form 7, the regional office first checks it for completeness. If anything is missing, the agency sends you a request for more information, and the review clock effectively pauses until you answer. A complete file moves into technical review, where staff verify your emission math, run any required modeling, and draft permit conditions.

For many Minor NSR permits, DEQ then prepares a draft permit and may hold a public comment period, especially for sources of public interest. Anyone can ask to be notified of permit actions, and for some projects DEQ schedules a public hearing. The agency reviews comments before it issues a final decision.

If DEQ approves your application, it issues the permit with specific limits, monitoring, and recordkeeping conditions you must follow. You can then begin actual construction and operation within the terms set. If DEQ denies the application, it explains why, and you may revise and refile or pursue an appeal.

Once issued, your obligations continue. Title V and synthetic minor sources receive annual maintenance fee invoices by August 1, set at amounts like $706 for a synthetic minor source in 2026, and emission fees of $107.88 per ton may apply based on the prior year’s actual emissions. Mark these dates, because missing an annual fee can put your permit out of good standing.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out Form 7

  • Using last year’s form or fee schedule, which can cause an underpayment that stalls intake.
  • Leaving an emission unit off the inventory, which means that unit is unpermitted and illegal to run.
  • Calculating potential to emit on expected use instead of maximum capacity, which understates emissions and risks a violation.
  • Claiming a control efficiency higher than the manufacturer rating, which DEQ rejects and sends back for recalculation.
  • Listing a P.O. Box as the physical location, which DEQ cannot assign to a regional reviewer.
  • Forgetting the Suitability and Value Form, which keeps the file from ever being deemed complete.
  • Naming a junior employee as the responsible official, which can void the legal certification.
  • Requesting a tight emission limit with no monitoring plan, which makes the limit unenforceable and invites a stricter condition.
  • Filing plain Form 7 for an asphalt, crematory, or concrete plant, which prompts DEQ to ask for the 7A, 7B, or 7C version.
  • Mailing the package without the fee, which means the review clock never starts.
  • Rounding stack height or temperature to look favorable, which skews modeling and can trigger rejection.
  • Checking “amendment” for a change large enough to need a full new permit, which forces a restart and a new fee.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

  • Do download a fresh 2026 form each time, because DEQ keys its review to the current layout.
  • Do call your regional air permit manager before you spend money, since early advice prevents costly redesigns.
  • Do show your full emission math, because traceable numbers move through review faster.
  • Do list every unit, even standby equipment, since DEQ decides what counts as insignificant.
  • Do start the local Suitability and Value Form early, because you cannot control the locality’s calendar.
  • Do keep proof of filing and payment, because it fixes the date your clock began.

Don’ts

  • Don’t begin construction before the permit issues, because that can bring penalties and a stop-work order.
  • Don’t reuse an old saved Form 7, since outdated layouts get returned.
  • Don’t guess at NAICS codes, because the code drives which standards apply.
  • Don’t claim controls you have not bought, since DEQ credits only documented, enforceable controls.
  • Don’t let a consultant sign the certification, because only a company officer can bind the firm.
  • Don’t ignore annual maintenance and emission fee invoices, since missing them threatens your permit standing.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Filing Pro Se (On Your Own) Filing With a Consultant
Saves consultant fees, which helps a tight budget. Adds cost, often several thousand dollars, which strains small firms.
You learn your own emissions, which builds in-house knowledge. You may not learn the details, which leaves you dependent later.
Works well for simple, single-unit changes, since the math is light. Best for complex sources, because modeling and PTE math get hard fast.
You control the timeline directly, which avoids handoff delays. Adds a handoff step, which can slow simple jobs.
Full ownership of every entry, which keeps you accountable. Expert review lowers the odds of a costly rejection, which protects your schedule.
Risk of errors is higher, because the rules are technical and easy to misread. Consultants know DEQ staff and norms, which smooths the review.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I file Form 7 before or after I build my new source?

Before. You must apply for and receive the permit before you begin actual construction or operation, because building first can bring penalties and a stop-work order.

Do I have to list standby generators I rarely use?

Yes. Standby and seldom-used units still have potential to emit, so they belong on the emission unit inventory or they remain unpermitted and exposed to enforcement.

Do I use maximum capacity or expected use for potential to emit?

Yes, use maximum capacity. Potential to emit means the most the equipment could legally and physically release, not what you plan to run day to day.

Do small businesses get an automatic exemption from Form 7?

No. The trigger is the amount of pollutant emitted, not company size, so a small shop with a high-output line can still need a permit.

Do I write my mailing address or my plant address in the location box?

No, not the mailing address. The physical location box needs the real on-the-ground site, because it sets your regional office and feeds air modeling.

Do I need the Suitability and Value Form with my application?

Yes. This local land-use certification must travel with Form 7, or DEQ will not deem your file complete.

Do I pay an application fee if my source is “true minor”?

No. Sources classified as true minor are not required to pay an application fee, though other annual fees may still apply later.

Do I put my consultant as the responsible official in the signature box?

No. The responsible official must be a company officer who can legally bind the firm; the consultant can be the contact person only.

Do asphalt and concrete plants use the same Form 7?

No. Asphalt plants use Form 7A and concrete batch plants use Form 7C, which add industry-specific fields to the same basic flow.

Do I file Form 7 with a central DEQ office in Richmond?

No. You file with the regional office that serves your facility’s county or city, because DEQ issues air permits through its regional offices.

Do I round my stack height up if I am unsure?

No. Use the real design values, because rounded stack data skews DEQ’s modeling and can trigger a rejection.

Do I still owe fees after the permit is issued?

Yes. Title V and synthetic minor sources receive annual maintenance fee invoices, and emission fees of $107.88 per ton may apply based on prior-year actual emissions.

Do I need emission factors if I cannot find one for my process?

Yes, provide a documented estimate. DEQ prefers a clearly explained method over a blank field, so note your approach in a cover letter.

Do I have to pay the fee at the same time I send Form 7?

Yes. The matching 2026 Application Fee Form and payment must travel with the application, or the review clock does not start.