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

The Modoc County Code does not contain an industrial-noise chapter with measured decibel limits. Instead, noise from industry and commerce is managed through zoning performance standards and case-by-case review. Across the zoning title, uses permitted by administrative or use permit must not emit unacceptable levels of noise, dust, smoke, odor, vibration or bright light beyond property lines; for instance, the Public Facilities zone (Section 18.62.030) requires that uses not emit unacceptable levels of noise, and residential-zone use lists require activities to be conducted within a building or screened and to not emit detectable noise at the boundary. Heavier or outdoor industrial uses, such as those in the Industrial-Light (IL) zone, are flagged for use permits precisely because they may create dust and noise (Section 18.50.040), allowing the planning commission to impose noise-mitigation conditions. The general home-occupation limit of 55 dBA at the lot line (Section 18.100.010) caps small-scale at-home industry. Where noise becomes unreasonable, the public-nuisance process in Chapter 8.20 applies, including administrative citations and treble abatement costs for repeat offenders under Government Code Section 25845.5. Importantly, the Right-to-Farm chapter (8.28, Ord. 291, 1989) declares that commercial agricultural operations conducted consistently with accepted standards shall not be or become a nuisance, mirroring California Civil Code Section 3482.5, with a planning-commission grievance process for disputes.