Davis, CA Noise from Specific Sources: HVAC & Mechanical Noise (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.
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?
Can a neighbor complain about a broken, noisy AC unit?
Does the same exemption cover pool equipment?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Davis
California rules heatmap·Compare Davis to another location·View the California noise from specific sources overview
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