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

Stanislaus County regulates industrial noise in its unincorporated areas through the same exterior standards in Section 10.46.050 of the Noise Control Ordinance (Chapter 10.46). Under Table A, parcels in an industrial land use zoning district have a maximum A-weighted level of 75 dB(A) both daytime (7:00 a.m.-9:59 p.m.) and nighttime (10:00 p.m.-6:59 a.m.). Crucially, the ordinance measures noise at the receiving property, so an industrial operation whose noise reaches a residential parcel must meet the residential limit (50 dB(A) day / 45 dB(A) night) or a noise-sensitive site's 45 dB(A) limit at that boundary. The 5 dB(A) reduction for pure-tone or impulsive noise (Section 10.46.050) frequently applies to machinery. Section 10.46.070 separately prohibits operating any device that creates vibration above the vibration-perception threshold at or beyond the property boundary (or 150 feet if on public right-of-way), defining that threshold as a measured motion velocity of 0.01 in/sec over 1 to 100 Hertz. Agricultural activity on agricultural lands for commercial purposes, conducted per accepted customs, is exempt under Section 10.46.080(H), as is construction or maintenance by a public entity or utility. Operators may seek a Planning Commission waiver under Section 10.46.090.