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

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

Key Facts

Standalone Ordinance
None; General Plan governs
Daytime Limit
50 dBA Leq (70 max)
Nighttime Limit
45 dBA Leq (65 max)
Measured At
Sensitive-use property line
Enforced Via
Use-permit conditions

Summary

Tuolumne County has no standalone noise ordinance. Stationary sources like data-center cooling and generators are held to the General Plan Noise Element: 50 dBA Leq daytime and 45 dBA Leq at night, measured at the property line of a home, school, or hospital.

City-specific rules exist: Sonora has its own data center noise limits rules that differ from Tuolumne County's county-level regulations. If you live in Sonora, check the city-specific page instead.

The daytime or nighttime value should not be exceeded as determined at the property line of the noise-sensitive land use.

Source: Tuolumne County Ordinance Code, Title 17 (Zoning)View official code

Full Breakdown

Tuolumne County does not have a county-wide noise ordinance. Instead, the General Plan Noise Element sets the standards, applied to new projects through CEQA and use-permit review. Figure 5.4, Maximum Allowable Noise Exposure for stationary noise sources, caps continuous noise at a noise-sensitive receptor at 50 dBA hourly Leq (70 dBA maximum) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., dropping to 45 dBA Leq (65 dBA maximum) from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. These limits are measured at the property line of the noise-sensitive land use: residences, schools, hospitals, churches, and libraries. A data center's chillers, cooling fans, and periodic generator testing would be conditioned to meet these figures. The county attaches and enforces the standards project by project.

Violations & Fines

There is no noise-ordinance fine schedule. Instead, a data center that exceeds its permit's noise conditions faces use-permit enforcement: the county can require mitigation, issue notices of violation, and ultimately revoke the permit for continued noncompliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Tuolumne County have a decibel limit for data-center noise?
Not through an ordinance. The General Plan Noise Element sets the numbers used in project conditions: 50 dBA Leq during the day and 45 dBA Leq at night, measured at a nearby home, school, or hospital property line.
How is stationary noise like cooling equipment regulated without an ordinance?
Through discretionary review. When a project needs a use permit or CEQA study, the county imposes the Noise Element limits as binding conditions of approval and enforces them, since there is no separate countywide noise code.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Tuolumne County

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Leaf Blower RulesFew RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesLight RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Neighbor Fence RulesFew RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Breed RestrictionsSome Restrictions

All Tuolumne County rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Tuolumne County to another location·View the California data centers & crypto mining overview

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Data Center Noise Limits in Cities Across Tuolumne County

Sonora, CATwain Harte, CA