San Luis Obispo County, CA Data Centers & Crypto Mining: Data Center Noise Limits (2026)

Unincorporated San Luis Obispo County regulates continuous, stationary-source noise through Table 3-2 of the General Plan Noise Element, applied during CEQA and land use permit review rather than a stand-alone decibel citation. For stationary sources affecting a noise-sensitive land use, the hourly Leq limit is 50 dB daytime (7 a.m.–10 p.m.) and 45 dB nighttime (10 p.m.–7 a.m.); the maximum level is 70 dB daytime and 65 dB nighttime. The standards are measured at the property line of the receiving land use, not the data center's own line. A facility's chillers, cooling fans, and backup-generator testing are conditioned to stay within these figures, and Policy 3.3.5 requires best available control technology where an industrial source would otherwise exceed them.