Industrial noise in unincorporated King County follows WAC 173-60 EDNA classes adopted via KCC 12.86. Class C industrial to Class A residential limits are 60 dBA day and 50 dBA night at the boundary.
King County Code Chapter 12.86 adopts the Washington Department of Ecology Environmental Designation for Noise Abatement (EDNA) system under WAC 173-60-040. Class C EDNA (industrial source) operating into a Class A (residential) receiving property is limited to 60 dBA from 7 AM to 10 PM and 50 dBA from 10 PM to 7 AM. Class B (commercial) into Class A residential is limited to 57 dBA day and 47 dBA night. Within the same class, Class C to Class C allows 70 dBA at all times. The 5/10/15 dB daytime excursion allowances apply (15 minutes, 5 minutes, 1.5 minutes per hour respectively). Industrial facilities near residential boundaries (common along the Duwamish, Tukwila, and Kent Valley) must demonstrate compliance through acoustical studies at permitting. Chronic violators are referred to the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks for enforcement. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency separately regulates air quality but not noise.
Class 1 civil infraction under KCC 23.02. Fines up to 1,000 dollars per day for industrial violators. Repeated violations can result in operating restrictions as a nuisance abatement remedy.
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See how King County's industrial noise rules stack up against other locations.
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