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The Standards / Noise03 / 08

NOISE

Constant hum, nighttime disturbance, property value impact

The Framework

What your community should assess, what controls exist, what policy tools are available, and how to verify compliance.

What to Measure

dBA at property line, tonal noise presence, daytime vs nighttime levels

Engineering Controls

Acoustic enclosures, sound walls, berms, equipment orientation, low-noise cooling systems

Policy Tools

Performance-based noise ordinance, minimum setback distances, operational limits

Monitoring

Independent acoustic testing, periodic compliance reports, complaint response protocol

Example Standard≤55 dBA daytime / ≤45 dBA nighttime at property line
Evidence
3 sources
City of Chandler, AZ — Data Center Ordinance

Chandler became one of the first U.S. cities to adopt a data-center-specific zoning ordinance after years of resident complaints about CyrusOne facility noise

  • Over 300 residents signed a petition citing constant low-frequency hum from CyrusOne’s cooling systems; residents described windows rattling at night and ambient noise of 45–50 dBA near the facility
  • City Council unanimously approved Ordinance No. 5033 (effective Jan. 2023), requiring pre-construction baseline sound studies, annual noise monitoring for five years, and mandatory neighborhood meetings
  • In December 2025, Chandler City Council unanimously rejected a new AI data center proposal, reflecting lasting community opposition shaped by years of noise complaints
City of Chandler — Data Center OrdinanceDCD — CyrusOne Noise Complaints
Prince William County, VA — Board of Supervisors

Prince William County’s multi-year fight over AWS data center noise near the Great Oak neighborhood produced police-verified measurements and a contentious new noise ordinance

  • A May 2022 police sound reading measured 60.1 dBA from a resident’s yard (5 dB over the 55 dBA nighttime limit); a separate August 2022 resident measurement recorded 72 dBA on a deck after 10 p.m.
  • On Oct. 28, 2025, the Board voted 5–2 to adopt a new ordinance, though critics objected that 6 dB were added to each octave-band limit recommended by consultants
  • Great Oak is a 291-home subdivision near four AWS data centers; residents reported sleep disruption, migraines, and anxiety, with some stating AWS would need to cut an additional 5–10 dB for relief
Prince William Times — Noise OrdinanceWTOP — Expedited Noise Rules Vote
U.S. EPA / WHO Europe — Noise Guidelines

The EPA’s ‘Levels Document’ and the WHO’s 2018 guidelines establish the health-protective thresholds against which data center noise complaints are measured

  • The EPA identifies 55 dBA outdoors and 45 dBA indoors as the maximum below which no adverse effects on public health and welfare occur from environmental noise
  • WHO’s 2018 guidelines recommend nighttime outdoor noise below 40–45 dBA; indoor levels should not exceed 30 dBA of continuous noise to prevent sleep disturbance
  • Data center cooling equipment generates 75–95 dBA at the source during peak operation; low-frequency components below 250 Hz travel farther than broadband noise, meaning standard dBA readings can understate perceived impact
EPA — Noise Levels Affecting HealthWHO — Environmental Noise Guidelines (2018)