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Merced County, CA Data Centers & Crypto Mining: Data Center Noise Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Residential-Adjacent
65 dBA Ldn / 75 Lmax
Non-Residential
70 dBA Ldn / 80 Lmax
Measured
At any property line
Background Cap
+10 dBA day / +5 night
Governing Code
Zoning Sec. 18.40.050; Ch. 10.60

Summary

Merced County's Zoning Code performance standards cap mechanical-equipment noise at any property line at 65 dBA Ldn (75 Lmax) next to a residential use and 70 dBA Ldn (80 Lmax) elsewhere. Data center cooling equipment and backup generators must meet these limits.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Merced County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

If the proposed use is adjacent to a residential land use or property that is zoned for residential use, the allowable noise level shall not exceed 65 dBA Ldn or 75 dBA Lmax at the property line.

Source: Merced County Zoning Code (Title 18, Unified Development Ordinance) & County Code Ch. 10.60 (Noise Control)View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4930839; v8 updated 2026-06-02).

Full Breakdown

Merced 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 performance standards in Section 18.40.050 of the Zoning Code, which work alongside County Code Chapter 10.60 (Noise Control) and the 2030 General Plan. For noise-generating mechanical equipment measured at any parcel boundary line: where the use is adjacent to a residential use or residentially zoned parcel, noise may not exceed 65 dBA Ldn or 75 dBA Lmax; where it is not, the limit is 70 dBA Ldn or 80 dBA Lmax.

Violations & Fines

Cooling or generator noise exceeding 65 dBA Ldn at a residential boundary, or 70 dBA Ldn elsewhere, violates Section 18.40.050; the county can issue notices of violation and require abatement or acoustic mitigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How loud can a Merced County data center be?
No more than 65 dBA Ldn (75 Lmax) at a property line next to homes, or 70 dBA Ldn (80 Lmax) elsewhere, under Zoning Code Section 18.40.050 and the county's General Plan noise standards.
Are data center backup generators covered for noise?
Yes. Generators, chillers, fans, and compressors are noise-generating mechanical equipment under Section 18.40.050 and must meet the property-line limits, and may not exceed background noise by 10 dBA by day or 5 dBA at night.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Merced County

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsData Center Zoning & SitingFew RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant Restrictions

All Merced County rules

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