Oh it's worse bullshit. Modern paint shops don't emit meaningful VOCs. Even in Texas, for example. Nobody's even making non voc compliant auto paint anymore because there is no market for it.

I can't speak to permitting but the coating and coating voc stuff I know quite well and what they state is simply bullshit.

I can also say I know of a bunch of auto paint places that opened in the mountain view surrounding area alone in the 10 years I lived there.

So I suspect it's all bullshit