What You Need To Know About California's Zero-Emission Forklift Regulation

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On June 27, 2024, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) passed the Zero-Emission Forklift (ZEF) Regulation, which phases out and restricts new purchases of Large Spark-Ignition (LSI) Forklifts that are Class IV and Class V (with a lift capacity of ≤12,000 lbs). In an effort to reduce pollution and improve air quality, California’s new forklift rule aims to reduce:

  • Emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx)

  • Fine particulate matter and other criteria pollutants

  • Greenhouse gases (GHG)

Targeted Forklifts

Applicability and Exclusions

The Final ZEF Regulation Order states that the Rule “applies to Forklift and engine manufacturers, as well as any person, public utility, special district, or government agency that operates, allows the operation of, owns, leases, rents, offers for sale, offers for lease, or offers for rent within California one or more LSI Forklifts unless:

  1. The Forklift is a Rough Terrain Forklift.

  2. The Forklift is a Vehicle Mounted Forklift.

  3. The Forklift is Combat and Tactical Support Equipment.

  4. The Forklift is a Pallet Jack.

  5. The Forklift has a permanently integrated telescoping boom as its primary work implement.

  6. The Forklift is owned and operated by a facility subject to the Mobile Cargo Handling Equipment at Ports and Intermodal Rail Yards Regulation, set forth in Title 13, California Code of Regulations, Section 2479, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

  7. The Forklift is owned and operated by an individual for personal, non-commercial, and non-governmental purposes.”

Deadlines: What do fleet operators in California need to know?

  • ALL FLEET OPERATORS:

    • Jan 1, 2026: Starting Jan 1, 2026, fleet operators can’t acquire additional LSI Forklifts.

    • March 31, 2026: No later than March 31, 2026, fleet operators must contact applicable electricity utility providers to initiate discussions regarding potential electrical service installation or upgrades for each separately metered or operating location with LSI Forklifts subject to phase-out requirements.

    • Jan 1, 2028: Starting Jan 1, 2028, existing targeted forklifts must be phased out by model year and can be replaced with only zero-emission equipment.

  • LARGE FLEET OPERATORS:

    • April 30, 2026: No later than April 30, 2026, large fleet operators must submit an Initial Report to CARB. For each subsequent year, an Annual Report must be submitted no later than April 30.

    • April 30, 2035 (Class IV LSI Forklifts): A Final Report documenting the completed phase-out of Class IV LSI Forklifts must be submitted by April 30, 2035 (deadline can be extended if extensions are applied).

    • April 30, 2038 (Class V LSI Forklifts): A Final Report documenting the completed phase-out of Class V LSI Forklifts must be submitted by April 30, 2038 (deadline can be extended if extensions are applied).

  • SMALL FLEET OPERATORS:

    • September 30, 2026: No later than September 30, 2026, small fleet operators must submit an Initial Report to CARB. For each subsequent year, an Annual Report must be submitted no later than September 30.

    • September 30, 20XX (Class IV LSI Forklifts): A Final Report documenting the completed phase-out of Class IV LSI Forklifts must be submitted by September 30 of the final year of the applicable phase-out schedule (see Table 2 below), or September 30 of the final year of an applicable extension.

    • September 30, 2038 (Class V LSI Forklifts): A Final Report documenting the completed phase-out of Class V LSI Forklifts must be submitted by September 30, 2038, or September 30 of the final year of an applicable extension.

ZEF Regulation Phase-Out Schedules

Below are three tables (phase-out schedules) from The Final ZEF Regulation Order, based on model year (MY).

 

Exemptions and Extensions

The Final ZEF Regulation Order provides detailed descriptions of each exemption and extension (pages 31-55) and lists the steps needed to document that an exemption or extension has been applied.

Examples of Exemptions Include:

  • Low-Use LSI Forklift Exemption

  • Dedicated Emergency Forklift Exemption

  • Temporary Storage of Non-Compliant LSI Forklifts Awaiting Sale, Scrap, or Relocation

  • LSI Forklifts Transported for Delivery Out-of-State

  • San Nicolas and San Clemente Islands Exemption

  • In-Field Forklift Exemption

Examples of Extensions Include:

  • Zero-Emission Forklift Delivery Delay Extension

  • Infrastructure Delay Extension

  • Operational Extension

If you have questions regarding California’s new Zero-Emission Forklift Regulation and how it might apply to and impact your operations, or if you need any assistance in meeting compliance, please contact us or call (800) 508-8034 to speak with one of our Sustainability professionals today.

Author

Claudia Cozadd, M.S.
Sustainability Analyst
KERAMIDA Inc.

Contact Claudia at ccozadd@keramida.com

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