San Bernardino County, CA Noise from Specific Sources: HVAC & Mechanical Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime limit (7am-10pm)
- 55 dB(A) at property line
- Nighttime limit (10pm-7am)
- 45 dB(A) at property line
- Measured at
- nearest residential property line
- Governing section
- County Code § 83.01.080(c)
- Applies to
- unincorporated county only
Summary
Rooftop and ground-mounted air conditioners, heat pumps and ventilation equipment in unincorporated San Bernardino County must stay under 55 dB(A) daytime and 45 dB(A) at night at the nearest home's property line.
Table 83-2 Noise Standards for Stationary Noise Sources ... Residential 55 dB(A) [7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.] 45 dB(A) [10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.] ... No person shall operate or cause to be operated a source of sound at a location ... which causes the noise level, when measured on another property, either incorporated or unincorporated, to exceed any one of the following: (A) The noise standard for the receiving land use ... for a cumulative period of more than 30 minutes in any hour.
Full Breakdown
County Code § 83.01.080(c) treats HVAC condensers, heat pumps and ventilation equipment as stationary noise sources and holds them to Table 83-2: 55 dB(A) from 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. and 45 dB(A) from 10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m. at an adjacent residential property line, measured with an ANSI-compliant sound meter. Commercial and industrial receiving properties get higher caps (55-70 dB(A)). Exceeding the standard for 30+ minutes in an hour is a violation; shorter, louder spikes are also capped on a sliding scale.
Violations & Fines
Enforced by County Code Enforcement or the Sheriff's Department as an infraction; a repeat violation within 180 days can be charged as a misdemeanor under § 24.0710, and the noise source can be declared a public nuisance and abated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run my AC condenser at night in San Bernardino County?
Does this apply inside cities like Rancho Cucamonga or Fontana?
What if my neighbor's heat pump is too loud?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino County to another location·View the California noise from specific sources overview
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