Glendale, CA Data Centers & Crypto Mining: Data Center Noise Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Code
- Muni Code Ch. 8.36
- Home limit
- 55 day / 45 night dBA
- Commercial limit
- 65 dBA anytime
- Industrial limit
- 70 dBA anytime
- Steady hum
- Minus 5 dBA
Summary
Glendale caps exterior noise at the property line under Municipal Code Chapter 8.36. Section 8.36.040 sets 55 dBA daytime and 45 dBA nighttime at single-family homes, 65 dBA in commercial areas, and 70 dBA in industrial zones. A data center's cooling and generators must comply.
No noise shall be generated which causes the maximum sound level to exceed the noise levels specified in chapter 8.36 of this code. ... No steady impulsive noise (such as hammering or riveting) or steady audible tone components (such as whines, screeches or hums) shall be detectable from any residentially zoned property which is adjacent to an IND use.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4983441; v20 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
Glendale's noise ordinance, Municipal Code Chapter 8.36, sets presumed exterior standards by zone in Section 8.36.040: single-family and duplex 55 dBA daytime and 45 dBA nighttime (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.); multifamily 60 dBA anytime; commercial 65 dBA anytime; industrial 70 dBA anytime. Section 8.36.060 makes it unlawful to operate any fan, air-conditioning apparatus, or similar device that exceeds these limits. A steady hum or pure tone cuts the limit five dBA under Section 8.36.030.K - reaching a data center's continuous chillers. The zoning code adds a stricter rule: Section 30.13.040.B.5 bars any steady hum from an IND use being detectable at adjacent residential property.
Violations & Fines
Noise over the Chapter 8.36 limits is a violation enforced by the City as a misdemeanor and public nuisance, and it can breach the noise conditions placed on a data center's Conditional Use Permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can a data center be in Glendale?
What noise rule protects homes near a Glendale data center?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glendale
California rules heatmap·Compare Glendale to another location·View the California data centers & crypto mining overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Data Center Noise Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle data center noise limits.