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

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

Key Facts

Daytime Limit
55 dBA Leq (7am-10pm)
Nighttime Limit
50 dBA Leq (10pm-7am)
Max Level (Lmax)
75 day / 70 night
Governing Doc
General Plan Noise Element
Tonal/Impulsive Penalty
Minus 5 dB

Summary

Kings County's 2035 General Plan Noise Element caps stationary (non-transportation) noise at a home at 55 dBA daytime and 50 dBA at night (Leq), with maximum levels of 75 and 70 dBA. A data center's cooling and generators must meet these limits through a required acoustical analysis.

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

Appropriate noise mitigation measures shall be included in a proposed project design when the proposed new use(s) will be affected by or include non-transportation noise sources and exceed the County's "Non-Transportation Noise Standards" (Table N-8).

Source: Kings County Development Code (Art. 8, Industrial Zoning Districts) & 2035 General Plan Noise ElementView official code

Full Breakdown

Kings County's numeric noise standards live in the 2035 General Plan Noise Element, not a standalone decibel ordinance (County Code Chapter 15, Article X handles nuisance noise separately). A data center's chillers, cooling fans, and backup generators are non-transportation noise sources. Under Table N-8, applied at the receiving use, noise at a home may not exceed an average (Leq) of 55 dBA daytime (7 a.m.-10 p.m.) and 50 dBA nighttime (10 p.m.-7 a.m.), with maximum (Lmax) levels of 75 and 70 dBA. Tonal, impulsive, or speech-like sounds get an extra 5 dB penalty. Policy B1.1.1 requires a project to mitigate to compliance. Generators run during power outages are exempt, and routine testing is exempt in daytime under one hour weekly.

Violations & Fines

Cooling or generator noise above 55 dBA Leq by day or 50 dBA at night at a nearby home fails the Noise Element standards, blocks permit approval, and triggers required mitigation before the project can proceed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How loud can a Kings County data center be?
No more than 55 dBA (Leq) during the day and 50 dBA at night at a nearby home, under the General Plan Noise Element's Table N-8. Tonal or pulsing noise is held five decibels lower.
Are data center backup generators covered for noise?
Generators must meet the 55/50 dBA limits in normal use, but generators activated during power outages are exempt, and routine testing is exempt if it occurs in daytime and under one hour per week.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Kings County

Parking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsData Center Zoning & SitingFew RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingLight RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome Restrictions

All Kings County rules

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