Industrial noise in unincorporated Santa Clara County must comply with the County Noise Ordinance and CEQA thresholds. Industrial-zone limits are 70 dBA day and 65 dBA night at property lines.
Industrial and manufacturing noise in unincorporated Santa Clara County is regulated by Division B11 of the County Code and by CEQA review during land use entitlements. Exterior noise limits at industrial-zone property lines are typically 70 dBA during daytime (7:00 AM to 10:00 PM) and 65 dBA at night, but when industrial noise crosses into adjacent residential or rural residential parcels, the lower receiving-zone limits (55/45 dBA) apply. Stationary equipment including compressors, chillers, and fume-exhaust systems at tech manufacturing sites must be shown to comply with projected noise contours during CEQA review, often triggering mitigation such as acoustic enclosures or screening walls. The County uses Ldn/CNEL (day-night average) metrics aligned with the California General Plan Noise Element Guidelines. Complaints about existing facilities go to Code Enforcement, who may require a noise study and mitigation plan. Silicon Valley tech campuses straddling the border with San Jose commonly have negotiated development agreements with specific noise caps.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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See how Santa Clara County's industrial noise rules stack up against other locations.
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