New CARB proposal would force cities to be clean fleet cops
By Damon Conklin, legislative advocate (transportation)
A set of proposed changes to the Advanced Clean Fleets regulation would introduce new administrative burdens for cities that translate to additional costs — and effectively force them to enforce the rule for private fleets. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is framing the revisions as a response to federal limitations and a step toward flexibility.
CARB is accepting comments on the proposed changes through April 17 as part of a 15-day comment period. Cities can submit a letter expressing their concerns using Cal Cities’ sample letter.
How would it work?
Currently, the Advanced Clean Fleets regulation requires all cities to transition to a 100% zero-emission fleet by 2027. CARB has significantly altered the rule in recent years, due in part to intense opposition from the federal government.
The revised proposal would extend medium- and heavy-duty fleet vehicle requirements to include private contractors performing work for cities, such as waste hauling, street sweeping, and construction. Cities would no longer need to manage compliance solely within their own operations; they would need to ensure that contracted fleets meet state mandates.
Cities would need to update contracts to include regulatory disclosures, annually verify contractor compliance with CARB databases, and maintain detailed records subject to audit within tight timeframes. These are unfunded mandates that shift compliance enforcement that CARB is funded to do onto already stretched local governments.
Although the proposal includes some modest improvements, such as delaying the 100% zero-emission vehicle purchase requirement to 2030 and expanding access to exemptions, these changes fall short. The exemptions are narrow, capped, and temporary, with many expiring by 2030. Worse, they rely on annual applications and discretionary approval by CARB, creating uncertainty for cities trying to plan for expensive long-term fleet investments and contracts.
This is not meaningful flexibility; it is conditional relief layered with bureaucracy. CARB’s new proposal fails to fully exempt vehicles that support emergency response, public safety, and critical infrastructure. Fire support units, disaster response vehicles, and utility service trucks are instead pushed into complex exemption pathways that may or may not be granted.
Why it matters
Cities support the state’s climate goals and are actively investing in cleaner fleets. But this proposal misses the mark by prioritizing rigid mandates. Without significant changes, it risks undermining the very services residents expect cities to deliver every day: emergency response, waste collection, and infrastructure maintenance.
If cities do not speak up, these rules will move forward, reshaping local operations, straining budgets, and putting essential services at risk. To learn how to make your voice heard, contact your regional public affairs manager.