Medina, OH Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Decibel limit
- 55 decibels
- Measurement point
- Nearest neighboring property line
- Exception
- Severe storms, utility outages
- Governing chapter
- Zoning Code Ch. 1155
- Review process
- Conditional use permit, Ch. 1153
Summary
Medina's zoning code sets a hard numeric noise ceiling for wind turbines and wind energy systems: operation cannot exceed 55 decibels, measured from the nearest neighboring property line. It is the only quantified decibel standard in the city's noise-related regulations.
(4) Sound Level. Operation of wind turbine or wind energy systems shall not exceed fifty-five (55) decibels, except during short-term events such as severe wind storms and utility outages. This information shall be obtained from the manufacturer of the wind turbine or wind energy system, and all readings, if necessary, shall be taken from the nearest neighboring property line.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025-01: Local legislation current through June 24, 2025 | State legislation current through December 31, 2024).
Full Breakdown
" The ordinance requires that the decibel information be obtained from the manufacturer of the system, and that any readings taken to verify compliance be measured from the nearest neighboring property line, not from the turbine itself. This puts the burden of proof on the equipment specifications and on-site measurement rather than a generic city-wide sound meter reading. 14, including fall-zone setbacks of 150% of tower height from property lines and roads, a 100-foot height cap for ground-mounted turbines, and a requirement that systems be reviewed through the conditional use process under Chapter 1153.
14(c) before installation. The city has no separate zoning-code decibel table for other land uses; general noise complaints outside the wind-turbine context are instead handled as nuisance or disorderly-conduct matters rather than by a metered decibel standard.
Violations & Fines
A wind turbine or wind energy system exceeding 55 decibels outside the storm/outage exception fails the Development Standards of Section 1155.14(d) and cannot receive or retain its conditional use approval, zoning certificate, or building permit. The Planning Director can require manufacturer documentation and property-line sound readings to confirm compliance, and noncompliant systems are subject to the same enforcement and decommissioning provisions that apply to other Section 1155.14 violations, including mandatory removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Medina have a citywide decibel limit for noise?
Where is the 55-decibel wind turbine measurement taken?
Is there ever an exception to the 55-decibel cap?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Medina
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