Industrial Noise: Kent vs Renton
How do industrial noise rules compare between Kent, WA and Renton, WA?
Kent and Renton have similar restriction levels.
Kent, WA
King County
Kent industrial sources are capped at 70 dBA day and 65 dBA night at another industrial property, but only 60 dBA day and 50 dBA night when received at a residential property. KCC 8.05 and WAC 173-60 apply.
View full Kent rules →Renton, WA
King County
Industrial noise in Renton including Boeing and Cedar River industry is limited to 70 dBA industrial, 60 dBA at residential day, 50 dBA at residential night per WAC 173-60 and RMC 8-7.
View full Renton rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Kent | Renton |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial to Residential Day | 60 dBA | 60 dBA |
| Industrial to Residential Night | 50 dBA | 50 dBA |
| Industrial to Industrial | 70 dBA | 70 dBA |
| Code | KCC 8.05 / WAC 173-60 | - |
| Industrial to Commercial | - | 65 dBA |
| Short Excursions Allowed | - | +5, +10, +15 dBA tiered |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Kent FAQ
How loud can Kent warehouses operate at night?
Industrial noise received at a residential property is capped at 50 dBA from 10 PM to 7 AM under WAC 173-60, regardless of the source being in an industrial zone.
Who enforces Kent Valley industrial noise?
Kent Code Enforcement and Kent Police enforce KCC 8.05. Multi-jurisdiction issues can involve the Department of Ecology.
Renton FAQ
Can Boeing operate 24 hours a day?
Yes. Industrial operations can run continuously provided noise received at adjacent residential property stays within the day and night limits, with allowed short-duration excursions.
How are industrial noise complaints investigated?
Code Enforcement investigates complaints with decibel measurements at the receiving property, often working with the facility to identify equipment or processes contributing to the exceedance.
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