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

Highland Municipal Code § 16.16.040(B)(3) governs air conditioners, heating, cooling and ventilating equipment, pool, spa or sauna equipment and all other mechanical, lighting or electrical devices in all residential districts in the City of Highland. Three duties apply. The equipment must be operated so that it does not disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of neighboring residents. It must be screened from surrounding properties and streets. And it must be installed and operated in accordance with all other applicable city ordinances and be subject to approval by the community development director prior to installation.

Placement limits come from the same paragraph. No such equipment, with the exception of ground-mounted air conditioning, can be located in the required front yard setback, the street side yard setback, or closer than 10 feet to any residential dwelling on adjacent properties.

A separate accessory structures rule in § 16.40.030 covers ground-mounted equipment, including air conditioning compressors, evaporative coolers and pool equipment: it can project a maximum of four feet into the required rear yard setback and a maximum of two feet into the required interior side yard setback, and it is prohibited from projecting into the required front or street side yard setbacks. The residential paragraph makes the community development director's approval a required step before installation.

For all zoning districts, § 16.48.110 in the performance standards chapter says all such equipment, including air conditioners, antennas, pumps, transformers, and heating and ventilating equipment, must be located and operated in a manner that does not materially disturb adjacent uses and activities. In condominium, townhouse and apartment developments, § 16.16.040(C)(4) adds that permanent mechanical equipment such as motors, compressors, pumps and compactors that the building official determines to be a source of structural vibration or structure-borne noise must be shock-mounted with inertia blocks or bases and/or vibration isolators in a manner approved by the building official.