Appendix B - Noise Standards Commonly Applied to Projects in Sacramento County

Sacramento County Noise Element Policies

The Sacramento County Noise Element establishes land-use compatibility criteria for both interior and exterior areas of various land uses. The County Noise Element policies which pertain to transportation noise follow.

NO-1: Noise created by new transportation noise sources should be mitigated so as not to exceed 60-dB Ldn/CNEL at outdoor activity areas of any affected residential lands or land use situated in the unincorporated areas. When a practical application of the beast available noise-reduction technology cannot achieve the 60-dB Ldn/CNEL standards, then an exterior noise level of 65-dB Ldn/CNEL may be allowed in outdoor activity areas.

N:O-4: Where residential land uses are proposed in areas exposed or projected exterior noise levels exceeding 60 dB Ldn / CNEL or the performance standards described above, an acoustical analysis shall be required as part of the environmental review process.

NO-6: The compatibility of proposed nonresidential projects with existing and future noise levels due to transportation noise sources shall be evaluated through a comparison to the standards described in Table 5 (below) and Table II-3 found in the Sacramento County Noise Element of the General Plan.

NO-7: Proposed Development of Residential land uses should not be permitted in areas exposed to existing or project levels of noise from transportation which exceed 60 dB to 65 dB Ldn / CNEL unless the project design includes effective mitigation measures to reduce noise.