Unincorporated Orange County has no data-center-specific noise rule, but its Noise Control Ordinance caps exterior noise reaching any residential property at 55 dB(A) daytime (7 a.m.-10 p.m.) and 50 dB(A) at night (10 p.m.-7 a.m.). Cooling equipment and generators must meet these limits.
County Codified Ordinance Sec. 4-6-5 sets exterior noise standards measured at any point on the affected property. When noise from a source reaches residential property, it may not exceed 55 dB(A) between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. or 50 dB(A) overnight for more than 30 minutes in any hour; briefer bursts are allowed on a sliding scale up to 20 dB(A) over the limit for very short periods. If the noise is pure-tone, impact, speech, or music, each limit drops 5 dB(A). These are the limits a data center's chillers, cooling towers, and backup generators must satisfy at the nearest home. The ordinance regulates noise received on residential property; commercial and industrial receivers are not covered.
Exceeding the Sec. 4-6-5 limits is a misdemeanor under Sec. 4-6-15, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense. Enforcement is complaint-driven and measured at the affected residence.
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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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