In the City of Santa Barbara, exterior mechanical equipment may not exceed 53 dB(A) at a residential property line (SBMC 9.16.070(D)), and equipment near residential, institutional or park parcels is capped at 60 dB(A) CNEL. Non-electric mechanical equipment can't run outdoors before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, with tighter weekend hours.
The City of Santa Barbara controls industrial, commercial and mechanical noise through its own noise code (SBMC Chapter 9.16) and the General Plan Noise Element, not a separate industrial chapter. Section 9.16.070 (Regulation of Noise Affecting Parcels Zoned or Used for Residential Purposes) limits mechanical equipment other than vehicles: such equipment, if not electric-utility-powered, may not be used outside before 8:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday or holidays, or before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Section 9.16.070(D) caps exterior mechanical equipment at 53 A-weighted decibels at the property line of any adjacent parcel used or zoned for residential, public or semi-public uses; the same section sets a 60 dB(A) CNEL limit for mechanical equipment at parcels used or zoned for residential, institutional or park purposes, requires equipment to be insulated, and prohibits all wind machines in the City. The City's Planning Division screens new development for mechanical-equipment noise and provides setback guidelines (for example, a small AC/heat-pump unit producing up to 65 dB sound power must sit at least 5 feet from the lot line, scaling up to 15 feet for louder units). Measurements follow Section 9.16.100 (Measurement Methods). Equipment found out of compliance must be removed, relocated or altered at the owner's expense. The general 50-foot 'plainly audible' standard (Section 9.16.020) applies to industrial noise as well.
Mechanical or industrial noise exceeding the 53 dB(A) property-line limit, the 60 dB(A) CNEL limit, or running outside the permitted hours violates SBMC 9.16.070 and is enforced under Section 9.16.110, with the City's $350 / $750 / $1,000 fine schedule. Equipment that does not comply must be removed, relocated or altered at the property owner's expense, and persistent violations can be abated by injunction under Section 9.16.120.
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