Showing ordinances that apply to Big Creek, CA
Big Creek is an unincorporated community (population 151) in Fresno County, California. Because Big Creek is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Fresno County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The decibel limits rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Fresno County does not establish specific decibel limits in its ordinance code for unincorporated areas. The General Plan Noise Element uses CNEL/Ldn standards for land use planning, and CEQA review applies project-specific limits based on receptor sensitivity.
Unlike many incorporated cities, unincorporated Fresno County does not have codified decibel limits enforceable through administrative citation. Instead, the county relies on its General Plan Noise Element for land use compatibility guidance: 60 dB CNEL is normally acceptable for residential use, 65 dB CNEL is conditionally acceptable, and 70+ dB CNEL is normally unacceptable. These thresholds guide zoning decisions and CEQA review rather than direct enforcement. Project-specific noise studies may impose operational decibel limits as conditions of approval. The SJVAPCD has authority over certain noise-producing equipment that also produces emissions. Cal/OSHA workplace noise standards (90 dBA 8-hour TWA) apply to industrial and agricultural worksites. For enforcement purposes, noise complaints are handled under the general nuisance standard rather than measured decibel thresholds.
No codified decibel-based penalties. Nuisance enforcement: $100-$500 citation. CEQA condition violations: project modification required. SJVAPCD violations handled separately.
See how Big Creek's decibel limits rules stack up against other locations.
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