Auburn, WA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential limit
- 60 decibels at property line
- Commercial limit
- 65 decibels at property line
- Industrial limit
- 70 decibels at property line
- Enforced under
- Chapter 8.28 ACC (noise control)
- Safety certification
- UL 9540 required
Summary
Auburn caps operational noise from battery energy storage systems (BESS) measured at the property line by zone: 60 decibels next to residential uses, 65 next to commercial, and 70 next to industrial, enforced under the city's general noise chapter.
3. Noise. Average operational noises heard at the property line to adjacent land uses shall be subject to Chapter 8.28 ACC and be limited to: a. Residential: 60 decibels. b. Commercial: 65 decibels. c. Industrial: 70 decibels.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 7023, passed July 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
28 ACC, the city's general noise control chapter. The section adopts WAC 51-54A-1207 by reference in addition to the International Building Code, International Fire Code and NFPA standards, layering state fire-and-life-safety rules for BESS installations on top of the zone-based noise cap. 10 ACC where applicable. Larger Tier II and Tier III systems (four megawatt-hours and above) face added requirements: large-scale UL 9540A fire testing, self-locking gate fencing under the International Fire Code, a cleared 10-foot combustible-vegetation buffer, secondary spill containment meeting NPDES standards, a secondary emergency vehicle access route where the site would otherwise be a dead end, and mandatory pollution liability insurance naming the city as loss payee through decommissioning.
Violations & Fines
A BESS operator whose average property-line noise exceeds the applicable 60/65/70-decibel zone limit is out of compliance with ACC 18.31.240(B)(3) and enforceable under Chapter 8.28 ACC, the city's general noise ordinance; the same section conditions permit issuance on UL 9540 safety certification and required insurance coverage through full decommissioning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What decibel limit applies to battery storage systems in Auburn?
Does Auburn have a general citywide decibel limit for all noise sources?
What other standards apply to battery storage systems in Auburn besides noise?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Auburn
Compare Auburn to another location·View the Washington noise ordinances overview
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle decibel limits.