Sonoma County, CA Data Centers & Crypto Mining: Data Center Noise Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime Limit
- 50 dBA L50 (7am-10pm)
- Nighttime Limit
- 45 dBA L50 (10pm-7am)
- Measured At
- Sensitive-use property line
- Pure-Tone Penalty
- 5 dBA
- Governing Standard
- General Plan Table NE-2
Summary
Sonoma County caps new stationary-source noise at 50 dBA L50 daytime and 45 dBA L50 at night, measured at the property line of any noise-sensitive use. Data-center cooling and generators would be held to these General Plan Table NE-2 standards through permit and CEQA review.
The total noise level resulting from new sources shall not exceed the standards in Table NE-2 as measured at the exterior property line of any adjacent noise sensitive land use.
Full Breakdown
Sonoma County's General Plan 2020 Noise Element, Policy NE-1c and Table NE-2, sets the noise performance standards applied to new projects during permit and CEQA review. For non-transportation sources, the exterior standard at an adjacent noise-sensitive property line is 50 dBA L50 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 45 dBA L50 from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., with higher short-duration tiers of 55/50 dBA L25, 60/55 dBA L08, and 65/60 dBA L02, plus a 5 dBA penalty for pure-tone noise. A data center's chillers, cooling fans, and generator testing would be conditioned to meet these limits.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the Table NE-2 limits at a neighboring property line violates a project's conditions of approval. Permit Sonoma can require added mitigation, issue notices of violation, and pursue enforcement for continued noncompliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the noise limit for data-center equipment in Sonoma County?
Where is data-center noise measured in Sonoma County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sonoma County
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