Contra Costa County has no codified decibel ordinance for stationary sources. A data center's cooling and generators are held to the 2045 General Plan land-use compatibility standard — a 60 dBA Ldn residential target, industrial normally acceptable to 75 dBA — enforced through CEQA and land-use-permit conditions.
The unincorporated county has no stationary-source noise ordinance with fixed property-line decibel limits, so a data center's chillers, cooling towers, and backup generators are governed by the 2045 General Plan Health and Safety Element and CEQA. Table HS-X sets land-use compatibility: outdoor noise is 'normally acceptable' up to 60 dBA Ldn for residential uses and up to 75 dBA Ldn for industrial and manufacturing uses. Policy HS-P14.1 requires an acoustical analysis where a noise-sensitive use would sit above the normally acceptable level, and HS-P14.5 requires mitigation for projects raising long-term noise above set thresholds at a sensitive use's property line. The county is studying a dedicated stationary-source noise ordinance under Action HS-A14.1.
Cooling or generator noise that breaches a project's CEQA-based conditions or the General Plan compatibility standards can trigger mitigation orders, added permit conditions, or permit denial. Construction outside the HS-P14.7 hours near homes is enforced through the permit.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Contra Costa County, CA
Vehicle noise in unincorporated Contra Costa County is enforced under the California Vehicle Code: mufflers are required (CVC §27150), modified exhausts can'...
Contra Costa County, CA
Unincorporated Contra Costa County enforces quiet hours of 10 p.m.–7 a.m. on weeknights and 10 p.m.–8 a.m. on weekends, using a plainly-audible standard — no...
Contra Costa County, CA
Contra Costa County's Noisy Animal Ordinance (County Code §416-12.202) makes it a violation for an animal to create noise 30 continuous minutes or 60 intermi...
Contra Costa County, CA
Unincorporated Contra Costa County restricts amplified music that is plainly audible inside a neighbor's closed home, prohibits nighttime amplification from ...
Contra Costa County, CA
Construction in unincorporated Contra Costa County is limited to 7 a.m.–7 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays, with no construction on Sundays or holid...
Contra Costa County, CA
Gas and electric lawn equipment in unincorporated Contra Costa County may generally be operated between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM on weekdays and 8:00 AM to 5:00 P...
See how Contra Costa County's data center noise limits rules stack up against other locations.
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