What is the difference between California CARB limits and OTC Model Rule limits?

California Air Resources Board limits are often stricter and product-specific. The Ozone Transport Commission Model Rule is adopted by northeastern and mid-Atlantic states with some variation. The lookup compares your product VOC to the limit enforced in the jurisdiction you select, pulling from CARB standards for California and OTC thresholds for other states.

How do I find the VOC content of my cleaning product?

Check the product's Safety Data Sheet in Section 9 or the technical data sheet from the manufacturer. VOC is reported as percent by weight or grams per liter. If the SDS lists multiple volatile components, you may need to sum them or contact the supplier for the total VOC figure used for regulatory reporting.

What happens if my product is over the VOC limit?

You cannot legally sell or use that product in the jurisdiction unless you reformulate to reduce VOC content or obtain a variance. Most contractors switch to a compliant alternative in the same category. Some suppliers offer separate formulations for California and non-California markets to meet differing limits.

VOC Compliance Lookup

Label claims are not state category limits.

Inputs

Jurisdiction

Product category

VOC input unit

Product VOC value

Check whether a cleaning or maintenance product meets volatile organic compound limits for California, New York, or other OTC Model Rule jurisdictions. Enter the product's VOC content by weight or grams per liter, select its category, and compare against the regulatory threshold.

Instruction

Pick the jurisdiction where you plan to sell or use the product.
Select the product category that matches the formulation on your label or SDS.
Enter the VOC value in percent by weight or grams per liter, then read the compliance status.

Worked example

A floor polish tested at 2 percent VOC by weight is checked against California limits for its category.

The result reports whether the product is compliant or over limit, displays the applicable threshold, and cites CARB or OTC Model Rule as the regulatory source.

Questions operators ask

What is the difference between California CARB limits and OTC Model Rule limits?: California Air Resources Board limits are often stricter and product-specific. The Ozone Transport Commission Model Rule is adopted by northeastern and mid-Atlantic states with some variation. The lookup compares your product VOC to the limit enforced in the jurisdiction you select, pulling from CARB standards for California and OTC thresholds for other states.
How do I find the VOC content of my cleaning product?: Check the product's Safety Data Sheet in Section 9 or the technical data sheet from the manufacturer. VOC is reported as percent by weight or grams per liter. If the SDS lists multiple volatile components, you may need to sum them or contact the supplier for the total VOC figure used for regulatory reporting.
What happens if my product is over the VOC limit?: You cannot legally sell or use that product in the jurisdiction unless you reformulate to reduce VOC content or obtain a variance. Most contractors switch to a compliant alternative in the same category. Some suppliers offer separate formulations for California and non-California markets to meet differing limits.