Costa Mesa caps exterior noise at 55 dB(A) from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and 50 dB(A) overnight, measured on the affected residential property. Municipal Code Section 13-280 sets the standard, and data-center chillers and generators are fixed noise sources bound by it.
Costa Mesa Municipal Code Section 13-280 sets exterior noise standards measured at any point on the affected residential property: 55 dB(A) from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and 50 dB(A) from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Each level drops five dB(A) when the noise is impact noise, simple tone noise, speech, or music. A source may exceed the standard only briefly - 30 minutes in any hour at the limit, one minute at the standard plus 15 dB(A), and never at the standard plus 20 dB(A). Section 13-278 names generators, compressors, fans, and air conditioning equipment as fixed noise sources, covering data-center cooling and backup power.
Noise exceeding the Section 13-280 standards is a Municipal Code violation enforced by Costa Mesa code enforcement through citations and administrative fines, and can breach noise conditions on a conditional use permit.
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Costa Mesa, CA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Orange County.
See how other cities in Orange County handle data center noise limits.
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