Alpine County, CA Noise Ordinances: Industrial Noise (2026)

Alpine County is a small, rural, recreation-oriented county with no general heavy-industrial zoning category in its noise table, so 'industrial' noise is effectively governed by the commercial limits. Under Code Section 18.68.090(B), Commercial (C) and Commercial Recreational (CR) zones are capped at 75 dB(A) Leq(15) measured beyond the parcel boundary; Institutional (INS) and Planned Development (PD) zones are capped at 70 dB(A). The code exempts 'usual and customary activities associated with the use and maintenance of commercial business and commercial property' — deliveries, building maintenance and grounds maintenance are listed — but only between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.; outside that window those activities must stay within the decibel limit. Other exemptions cover public-agency and utility operations (snow removal, clearing storm debris, repairing downed lines, sewer maintenance) and regular solid-waste collection. Where a particular use is impractical to keep within limits, the County can grant a conditioned Temporary/Short Duration exception. The ambient-plus-five-decibel adjustment applies where background noise already exceeds the standard. The standard is designed to supplement Penal Code Sections 370 and 415, so a commercial operation in compliance with the decibel limit may still be addressed as a public nuisance. Because the entire county is unincorporated, the County Community Development division administers these rules and may add site-specific conditions through use permits.