Noise from Specific Sources in Santa Cruz County, CA (2026)
2 rules for unincorporated Santa Cruz County, California.
Verified from official government sources
HVAC & Mechanical Noise
Santa Cruz County caps the exterior noise from residential or commercial air-conditioning and mechanical units near homes at 60 dB for older units and 55 dB for units installed after the noise chapter took effect, measured at the neighboring property line. Interior noise inside nearby bedrooms cannot exceed 45 dB.
Santa Cruz County HVAC Equipment Noise Limits
Some RestrictionsSCCC § 13.15.060 (Ord. 5308 § 1, 2019)
13.15.060. Special requirements for air conditioning/mechanical units in or near residential uses. Where the intruding noise source is a residential air-conditioning unit, or a commercial air-conditioning or other mechanical unit located within 100 feet of any building or place regularly used for sleeping purposes, that operates more or less continually and/or during most hours, the A-weighted ...
Low-Frequency Bass Limits
Santa Cruz County has no separate decibel limit for bass frequencies: instead, SCCC § 8.30.010(C)(2) lists 'pitch (frequency) of the sound, e.g., very low bass or high screech' as one of seven factors weighed together in deciding whether any noise is 'offensive' under the county's general noise ordinance.
Santa Cruz County Low-Frequency Bass Noise
Some RestrictionsSanta Cruz County Code § 8.30.010(C)(2)
(C) The following factors shall be considered when determining whether a violation of the provisions of this section exists: (1) Loudness (Intensity) of the Sound. ... (2) Pitch (frequency) of the sound, e.g., very low bass or high screech; (3) Duration of the sound; (4) Time of day or night; (5) Necessity of the noise, e.g., garbage collecting, street repair, permitted construction activities;...
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