Hawthorne's Noise Regulations (Ordinance No. 2138) apply one-hour average sound limits to stationary sources like machinery, pumps, and air conditioners, measured at the receiving property. Commercial property (C-2, C-3, Regional Commercial) not abutting residential is capped at 65 dBA anytime; where it abuts residential, the 60 dBA day / 50 dBA night limits apply.
Hawthorne is a dense industrial and aerospace city (home to SpaceX), so stationary-source noise is significant. Ordinance No. 2138's Sound Level Limits provision makes it unlawful for any person to cause noise such that the one-hour average sound level exceeds the table limit at any location beyond the premises where the noise is produced. The ordinance's executive summary notes it is designed to protect people from sources such as machinery, pumps, and air conditioners and to keep adjacent properties from being exposed to excessive noise from stationary sources. The limits are keyed to the receiving property's zone: C-2, C-3, and Regional Commercial property NOT abutting a residential zone is limited to 65 dBA anytime; the same commercial zones, plus UOS, where they abut residentially zoned property, take the residential 50 dBA (night) / 60 dBA (day) limits. Fixed-location public utility distribution or transmission facilities on or adjacent to a property line are subject to these limits measured at or beyond 6 feet from the easement boundary. Duration adjustments (+3 to +15 dB for short bursts) and the ambient-floor rule also apply. These are city standards governing industrial noise within incorporated Hawthorne.
Stationary-source violations are enforced under the Hawthorne Municipal Code penalty provisions by Code Enforcement, using calibrated A-weighted sound level meter measurements at the receiving property. The Government Preempted Activities exemption applies where federal, state, or local law has preempted regulation of a particular activity.
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