Unlike many rural counties, Butte County has a codified Noise Control Ordinance. Section 41A-7 caps noise at sensitive receptors at 50 dBA Leq daytime and 40 nighttime in non-urban areas (55/45 in urban areas). These limits apply to a data center's chillers, fans, and backup generators.
Butte County enforces a codified Noise Control Ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter 41A), not merely General Plan policy. Section 41A-7 sets exterior standards at noise-sensitive receptors: in non-urban areas 50 dBA Leq daytime, 45 evening, and 40 nighttime; in urban areas 55, 50, and 45 dBA. Maximum instantaneous (Lmax) limits run higher. The General Plan 2030 Health and Safety Element applies these same standards to stationary, non-transportation sources such as a data center's cooling and generator equipment, and Policy HS-P1.8 specifically requires generator noise near homes to be regulated. Policy HS-P1.6 requires an applicant-funded acoustical study for noise-producing projects near sensitive uses. Nighttime runs 10 PM to 7 AM.
A data center whose cooling or generator noise exceeds the Section 41A-7 limits at a neighboring receptor violates the Noise Control Ordinance. The county can deny or condition permits, require enclosures, barriers, or setbacks, and pursue abatement until it conforms.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Butte County, CA
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Butte County, CA
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Butte County, CA
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Butte County, CA
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Butte County, CA
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Butte County, CA
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See how Butte County's data center noise limits rules stack up against other locations.
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