Santa Clara's own noise ordinance, City Code Section 9.10.040, caps exterior noise at the receiving property by zone: 55 dBA day and 50 dBA night at single-family homes, 70 dBA in Light Industrial, and 75 dBA in Heavy Industrial. Data-center cooling and generators must comply.
City Code Section 9.10.040, Schedule A, makes it unlawful to operate a fixed noise source whose level at any other property exceeds the limit for that receiving zone. Single-family and duplex residential (R1, R2): 55 dBA from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., 50 dBA overnight. Commercial and office: 65/60. Light Industrial (ML, MP): 70 dBA anytime; Heavy Industrial (MH): 75 dBA anytime. Measurement is taken at the closest point on the affected property, and if the noise carries music or speech the limit drops by five dBA. A data center's continuous chillers, cooling towers, and backup generators are held to the nearest receiver's number - the 50 dBA overnight residential floor binds where an industrial site abuts homes.
Noise exceeding the Section 9.10.040 Schedule A limits is a City Code violation enforced by the Santa Clara Police Department and Code Enforcement, and can also breach the noise conditions placed on a data center's Use Permit.
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