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Skagit County, WA Noise from Specific Sources: Generator Noise (2026)

Light Restrictions

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

Key Facts

Exemption trigger: No utility power due to disaster/outage
Outside outage: Subject to general nuisance/WAC noise standard
Enforcing agency: Skagit County Sheriff's Office
Generator-specific rule: Only the outage exemption, no decibel limit
Governing section: SCC 9.50.040(3)(n)

Summary

Unincorporated Skagit County exempts portable generators from its public disturbance noise rules only while the primary electrical supplier has no service available because of a natural disaster or power outage, under SCC 9.50.040(3)(n). Outside an outage, generator sound remains subject to the county's general nuisance and WAC decibel standards.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Skagit County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(3) The provisions of Subsection (2) of this Section shall not apply to sounds related to: ... (n) Portable generators during periods when there is no electrical service available from the primary supplier due to natural disaster or power outage.

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Full Breakdown

040(2). Subsection (n) covers portable generators during periods when there is no electrical service available from the primary supplier due to natural disaster or power outage. The exemption is narrow: it only applies while utility power is actually out because of a disaster or outage, not to routine or recreational generator use, construction generators, or backup generators run for testing. 040(1). 50. 030(1).

Violations & Fines

Generator noise that falls outside the power-outage exemption is enforced like any other Chapter 9.50 violation under SCC 9.50.050: a warning for a first offense within a year, a $125 Class 2 civil infraction plus statutory assessments for a second, and a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to $1,000 in fines and 90 days in jail, for a third or subsequent offense in the same year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run a generator overnight during a power outage in unincorporated Skagit County?

Yes. SCC 9.50.040(3)(n) exempts portable generators from the county's public disturbance noise rules while the primary utility has no electrical service available because of a natural disaster or power outage, so generator noise during an actual outage is not a violation regardless of the hour.

Is generator noise regulated once the power outage is over?

Yes. The SCC 9.50.040(3)(n) exemption only covers the period when utility power is actually unavailable due to disaster or outage. Once service is restored, generator sound is treated like any other noise source and must not unreasonably disturb a neighbor's peace under SCC 9.50.040(2) or exceed the WAC 173-60 decibel standard under SCC 9.50.040(1).

Does Skagit County set a decibel limit specifically for generators?

No. Chapter 9.50 does not contain a generator-specific decibel or distance test. The only generator-specific text is the outage exemption in SCC 9.50.040(3)(n); otherwise generator noise falls under the general unreasonably-disturbs standard in SCC 9.50.040(2) and the WAC 173-60 ceiling in SCC 9.50.040(1).

Sources & Official References

[1]Skagit County Code, Chapter 9.50 (Code Publishing)

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