Washington County, UT Data Centers & Crypto Mining: Data Center Noise Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- IND zone noise limit
- 70 decibels at property line
- MFG zone noise limit
- 60 decibels at property line
- Attenuation requirement
- Systems tuned to equipment's dominant frequencies
- Power usage effectiveness cap
- 1.2 or less
- Daily power cap
- 50 MW regardless of source
- Reporting
- Yearly public report on usage and monitoring
Summary
Washington County's Industrial zone, the only zone where a large data, AI, or crypto center may sit, caps noise at 70 decibels measured at the property line under County Code § 10-11-4, compared with 60 decibels in the adjoining Manufacturing zone. Every data, AI, or crypto center must also run noise attenuation systems tuned to its own equipment's dominant frequencies.
Noise limit measured in decibels at the property line. All noise shall be muffled so intermittence, beat frequency or shrillness does not exceed normal street traffic noise. 60 70 ... each data, AI, or crypto center shall monitor and: (1) use noise attenuation systems tailored to the dominant frequencies of the equipment; (2) use air cooled, or ultra-low water, closed loop, or reuse water systems; (5) maintain a power usage effectiveness rating of 1.2 or less; (6) regardless of source, maintain daily power use of 50 MW or less.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-17: Code current through: Ord. 2026-1329-O, passed 8-18-2026).
Full Breakdown
" Because § 10-11-2 confines a data, AI, or crypto center to the Industrial column of the use chart, the 70-decibel figure, not the 60-decibel Manufacturing figure, is the one that governs a data center site. " The county also requires a data, AI, or crypto center to publish a yearly report on the company website and in two local online newspapers disclosing monthly monitoring data, water and electricity usage, and other compliance information. These performance standards apply on top of, not instead of, the 10 to 50 megawatt capacity ceiling in § 10-11-2's use chart, and were adopted with the zone itself by Ord. 2022-1215-O, August 2, 2022.
Violations & Fines
A data, AI, or crypto center that exceeds the 70-decibel property-line limit or skips the required noise attenuation monitoring is out of compliance with § 10-11-4's performance standards, which § 10-11-1 makes a condition of the operator's continued right to operate in the Industrial zone. The county may hire outside professionals, at the business's expense, to verify ongoing compliance, and § 10-1-11 lets the county attorney sue to abate a noncompliant operation as a public nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can a Washington County data center be at the property line?
Do data centers have extra noise requirements beyond the decibel limit?
Does Washington County require data centers to report their noise and power compliance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
Compare Washington County to another location·View the Utah data centers & crypto mining overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.