City of San Mateo Law Library
City of San Mateo Municipal Code.

27.56.090 NOISE.

Sound levels shall be measured with a sound level meter and associated octave band filter manufactured according to standards prescribed by the American Standards Association, Inc., New York, N.Y. Measurements shall be made using the flat network of the sound level meter. Impulsive type noises shall be subject to the performance standards hereinafter prescribed provided that such noises shall be capable of being accurately measured with such equipment. Noises capable of being measured, for the purpose of this title, shall be those noises which cause rapid fluctuation of the needle of the sound level meter with a variation of no more than plus or minus two decibels. Noises incapable of being so measured, such as those of an irregular and intermittent nature, shall be controlled so as not to become a nuisance to adjacent uses.

At no point either on the boundary of a residence district or a commercial district or at one hundred twenty-five feet from the nearest property line of a plant or operation, whichever distance is greater, shall the sound pressure level of an individual operation or plant (other than the operation of motor vehicles and other transportation facilities) exceed the decibel levels at the designated octave bands shown hereafter for the districts indicated.

Octave Band Cycles Per Second Sound Level *Residence Sound Level **Commercial
0 to 75 67 73
75 to 150 62 68
150 to 300 58 64
300 to 600 54 60
600 to 1200 49 55
1200 to 2400 45 51
2400 to 4800 41 47
Above 4800 37 43

* Maximum permitted sound level in decibels along residence district boundaries or 125 feet from plant or operation property line.

** Maximum permitted sound level in decibels along commercial district boundaries or 125 feet from plant or operation property line.