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Davis, CA Noise from Specific Sources: HVAC & Mechanical Noise (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing law
DMC § 24.02.040(c)
Condition for exemption
Equipment in good working order
Also exempt
Pool pumps
Limit if not exempt
50 dBA night / 55 dBA day
Enforcement chapter
DMC Chapter 24, Article 24.02

Summary

Air conditioners, pool pumps and similar mechanical equipment are exempt from Davis's noise chapter under Municipal Code Section 24.02.040(c), as long as the equipment is in good working order. A malfunctioning or poorly maintained unit loses that exemption and is measured against the chapter's regular decibel limits.

(c) Air conditioners and similar equipment. Air conditioners, pool pumps and similar equipment are exempt from this chapter, provided they are in good working order.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4915048; v22 updated 2026-05-19).

Full Breakdown

040(c) provides a narrow, unconditional exemption: air conditioners, pool pumps and similar equipment are excused from Chapter 24's noise regulations entirely, provided they are in good working order. That single condition is the only qualifier the code prints. A properly functioning air conditioner or pool pump is not subject to the residential decibel limits in Table No. 030. , permitted construction and landscape equipment during set hours, work performed for public health and safety such as street sweeping or utility repair, and legally required safety devices and declared emergencies. 01, if the equipment's disrepair also creates a visual or physical blight on the property.

Violations & Fines

A unit that is not in good working order loses the Section 24.02.040(c) exemption and is measured against the ordinary limits: fifty dBA at night and fifty-five dBA by day at the residential property plane under Section 24.02.020, or the absolute Section 24.02.030 ceiling. A confirmed violation is an infraction for the first two offenses within a year and a misdemeanor on the third, under Section 24.01.030.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my air conditioner exempt from Davis's noise limits?
Yes, as long as it is in good working order. Section 24.02.040(c) exempts air conditioners, pool pumps and similar equipment from the noise chapter entirely, with no separate decibel cap, but that exemption only holds while the unit is functioning properly.
Can a neighbor complain about a broken, noisy AC unit?
Yes. Once equipment is not in good working order it falls out of the Section 24.02.040(c) exemption and is measured against the ordinary residential noise limits in Section 24.02.020, fifty dBA at night and fifty-five dBA during the day at the property line.
Does the same exemption cover pool equipment?
Yes. Section 24.02.040(c) names pool pumps alongside air conditioners and similar equipment, so a properly maintained pool pump is exempt from Davis's noise chapter on the same good-working-order condition that applies to air conditioning equipment.

Sources & Official References

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