What is compost?

Compost is a product which results from the biological decomposition of organic wastes. Compost includes vegetable, yard, and wood wastes, excluding painted, treated, and plywoods. Composting is a great way to reduce waste which may otherwise end up in a landfill while providing a valuable, low cost, source of fertilizer for your garden. Small, backyard composing activities are not required to obtain a permit, but may need to comply with other local ordinances.

What is a composting operation?

Composting operations produce compost in larger quantities than backyard composting, but don’t quite fall into the "composting facility" category listed below. In order to be considered a composting operation, the operator must demonstrate that they fall into one of the following categories: 1) research operation; 2) agricultural material composting operation; or 3) green material operation with no more than 1,000 cubic yards of raw material on site at any one time. Composting operations do not need a permit from Environmental Health Services, but may need to comply with notification requirements and routine inspections.

What is a composting facility?

A composting facility generally produces compost in large quantities. Compost facilities include those which conduct animal material composting, sewage sludge composting, mixed waste composting, and green material composting with over 1,000 cubic yards of raw material and active compost on site at any one time, must obtain a composting permit, which is a type of solid waste facility permit from Environmental Health Services.

Who is excluded from permit?

Residences, parks, community gardens, homeowner associations, universities, schools, hospitals, golf courses, industrial parks, and other similar entities if less that a total of 500 cubic yards of green material or animal material and active compost are on site at any one time.
An activity is excluded if it composts green material or animal material, derived from agricultural commodities, and returns a similar amount of the compost produced to that same agricultural source. No more than 2,500 cubic yards of compost product may be given away or sold annually.
Chipping and grinding is an excluded activity. However, some standards apply to activities which maintain over 1,000 cubic yards of chipping material on site at any time.
Biomass conversion, which refers to the controlled combustion of agricultural crop residues, garden clippings, and wood waste used for producing electricity or heat is an excluded activity.
Vermicomposting, which produces compost through worm activity is also excluded.

If you fall into any of these categories, you will not need to apply for a compost permit. However, you may need to contact Santa Barbara County Planning and Development for proper zoning, and check with other agencies, such as the Air Pollution Control District and the Regional Water Quality Control Board. A conditional use permit may require compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act. If you want information on the best composting techniques applicable to your project, Santa Barbara County Public Works, Solid Waste & Utilities Division has a backyard compost program which provides information and assistance to local compost projects.

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