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Coconino County, AZ Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Wind turbines
50 dBA cap at property line (§3.11.C.12)
Animal shelters/kennels
50 dBA cap (§3.16.C.1)
Campground generators
50 decibels at property line (§3.18.C.11.A)
Utility-scale renewable energy
50 dBa, tested (§3.19.E.6.A)
General residential rule
no decibel table in zoning code
Permit revocation bar
1 year (§5.1.B.5)

Summary

Coconino County's zoning ordinance does not set a single decibel table by district; instead it repeats a 50 dBA/decibel cap at the property line for specific special uses. Accessory wind turbines, commercial animal shelters and kennels, campgrounds, and utility-scale renewable energy facilities must each stay at or under 50 decibels measured from the nearest lot line.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Coconino County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Accessory Wind Energy Systems shall be designed, Installed, and operated so that noise generated by the system shall not exceed fifty decibels (50 dBA), as measured from the nearest property line, except during short-term events including utility outages and severe wind storms.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.

Full Breakdown

12 requires that Accessory Wind Energy Systems 'be designed, Installed, and operated so that noise generated by the system shall not exceed fifty decibels (50 dBA), as measured from the nearest property line,' with a carve-out for short-term events such as utility outages and severe wind storms. 1 for commercial Animal Shelters and Kennels, which lets an operator use 'solid wooden, metal, or masonry walls' to hit the limit. A: 'Noise from generators shall not exceed 50 decibels at the property line,' part of a required narrative on quiet hours (the ordinance suggests 8 pm to 8 am).

A, which caps 'Operational noise impacts' at 50 dBa and requires a professional noise analysis, baseline sound measurements, and post-construction compliance testing before the Planning and Zoning Commission will grant any exception. § 13-2904. 1.

Violations & Fines

A use that exceeds its 50 dBA limit is out of compliance with its Administrative or Conditional Use Permit. The Community Development Director can require corrective noise mitigation, and under Section 5.1.B.5 a revoked permit cannot be reissued to the same owner and location for at least one year. Utility-scale renewable projects face mandatory post-construction compliance testing under Section 3.19.E.6.A before any exceedance is excused.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Coconino County set decibel limits by zoning district?
Not a general table. The zoning ordinance instead sets a recurring 50 dBA (or 50-decibel) limit measured at the property line for specific uses: accessory wind turbines (§3.11.C.12), commercial animal shelters and kennels (§3.16.C.1), campground generators (§3.18.C.11.A), and utility-scale renewable energy facilities (§3.19.E.6.A).
Is a home generator or wind turbine limited to 50 decibels everywhere in the county?
The 50 dBA cap is written into the performance standards for licensed special uses like accessory wind systems and campground generators, not as a blanket residential rule. A private household appliance outside those specific use categories is not capped by this ordinance's noise sections.
How does the county enforce these noise limits?
Compliance is tied to the Administrative or Conditional Use Permit for the underlying use. The Community Development Director can require mitigation, and utility-scale renewable projects must submit professional noise studies and post-construction compliance testing under Section 3.19.E.6.A before an exceedance is approved.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Coconino County

Quiet HoursSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsBarking DogsSome RestrictionsAmplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesFew RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSignificant Restrictions

All Coconino County rules

Compare Coconino County to another location·View the Arizona noise ordinances overview

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