Marin County caps new stationary-source noise at 50 dBA Leq daytime and 45 dBA Leq at night, measured at the property line of the affected home. A data center's cooling and generators would be held to these Countywide Plan Noise Element benchmarks through permit and CEQA review.
The Marin Countywide Plan Built Environment Element sets the noise benchmarks applied during permit and CEQA review. Program NO-1.a and Figure 3-43, Benchmarks for Allowable Noise Exposure from Stationary Noise Sources, set an exterior hourly Leq of 50 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 45 dBA from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. at the property line of the receiving land use, with maximum-level tiers of 70/65 and 65/60 dBA for impulsive noise. The standard rises to match a neighborhood that is already louder. A data center's chillers, cooling fans, and generator testing would be conditioned to meet these limits. The county's Municipal Code noise chapter (6.70) mainly addresses construction and nuisance noise, not a numeric stationary cap.
Cooling or generator noise exceeding the Figure 3-43 benchmarks at a neighboring property line violates a project's conditions of approval. The Community Development Agency can require added mitigation, issue notices of violation, and withhold or condition permits under CEQA.
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