Fresno County, CA Data Centers & Crypto Mining: Data Center Noise Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime Limit
- 50 dBA (7am-10pm)
- Nighttime Limit
- 45 dBA (10pm-7am)
- Measured
- Within 50 ft of home
- Governing Code
- County Code Ch. 8.40
- Tonal Penalty
- Minus 5 dB(A)
Summary
Fresno County's Noise Control ordinance (County Code Chapter 8.40, Ordinance 24-021) caps exterior noise at an affected home at 50 dBA during the day and 45 dBA at night. Data center cooling equipment and backup generators must meet these limits.
"Fixed noise source" means a device or a machine which creates sounds while fixed or stationary, including, but not limited to, residential, agricultural, industrial and commercial machinery and equipment, pumps, fans, compressors, air conditioners and refrigeration equipment.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
Fresno County has no noise rule written for data centers, so a facility's chillers, cooling fans, compressors, and diesel backup generators are held to the countywide Noise Control ordinance in Chapter 8.40 of the County Code, readopted as Ordinance No. 24-021 on December 17, 2024. Section 8.40.040 sets the exterior standard, measured within 50 feet of an affected residence, school, hospital, church, or library: 50 dBA daytime (7 a.m.-10 p.m.) and 45 dBA nighttime (10 p.m.-7 a.m.) for any cumulative 30 minutes in an hour, with higher limits for shorter bursts. The code names air conditioners, fans, compressors, and refrigeration equipment as fixed noise sources, and tonal or recurring impulsive noise is penalized an extra 5 dB(A).
Violations & Fines
Cooling or generator noise exceeding 50 dBA by day or 45 dBA at night at a nearby home violates Chapter 8.40; the Sheriff, Health Officer, or code enforcement can issue citations and require abatement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can a Fresno County data center be?
Are data center backup generators covered for noise?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fresno County
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