Ask the Expert Question-and-Answer Archive

by Ron Joseph

April, 2004

Painting a Car at Home

Q. What are the legal requirments, as far as air quality is concerned, to strip and refinish a car in home type garage?

A. To the best of my knowledge there are no legal requirements with regard to painting or refinishing a car at home in your garage. However, you must be aware of all the fire and safety requirements in an enclosed space. If you paint cars on an ongoing basis especially as a business then there are regulations that need to be followed and you would need to apply for permits to do so.

In California we are required to purchase only legal paints coatings and thinners and it is assumed that everything we purchase from a hardware store is assumed to be legal.