San Diego County caps one-hour average sound at the receiving property line: 50 dB(A) daytime and 45 dB(A) at night for homes, and 70 dB(A) for M50/M52/M54 industrial property. A data center's Major Use Permit ties compliance to a required noise study.
County Code Sec. 36.404 sets one-hour average sound level limits measured at the property line of the source or at any receiving property. Residential zones are limited to 50 dB(A) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 45 dB(A) overnight; commercial property to 60 dB(A) daytime and 55 dB(A) overnight; and land in the M50, M52, and M54 industrial zones to 70 dB(A) at any time (S82, M56, and M58 get 75 dB(A)). Because a large data center needs a Major Use Permit, Sec. 36.404(b) lets a noise study's mitigation measures, once made conditions of that permit, constitute compliance. Cooling towers and generators are modeled against the nearest receiver's limit.
Noise exceeding the Sec. 36.404 limits is enforced by County Code Compliance. For a permitted data center, breaching the noise conditions of its Major Use Permit is a permit violation that can trigger enforcement and revocation.
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