Noise Ordinances in Santa Maria, CA (2026)
5 verified noise ordinances for Santa Maria, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Santa Maria Municipal Code Chapter 5-5 sets ambient base noise levels that drop at night in residential zones, with a violation found when the level exceeds the standard for set durations within an hour.
Noise standards by zone and time of day
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code Section 5-5.01 (Policy declared)
It is declared to be the policy of the City to prohibit unnecessary, excessive and annoying noises from all sources subject to its police power. Noises detrimental to the health and welfare of the citizenry shall be systematically proscribed.
Construction Hours
Santa Maria limits residential-zone construction noise under Chapter 5-5, with a construction-noise permit required from the Noise Control Officer when work exceeds the Chapter 5-5 standards, and a household-equipment carve-out for limited daytime hours.
Construction noise hours and permits in residential zones
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code Section 5-5.11 (Exclusions)
The reasonable operation of normal household gardening equipment or hobby shop equipment or home maintenance/repair work is allowed during the hours of seven (7:00) a.m. until six (6:00) p.m. on Monday through Friday and of eight (8:00) a.m. until five (5:00) p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Barking Dogs
Barking dogs in Santa Maria are treated as 'unmeasurable nuisance noise' under Chapter 5-5 and as a Good Neighbor Rules issue under Chapter 4-7, with persistent barking handled by Santa Barbara County Animal Services.
Barking dogs as a noise nuisance
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code Section 5-5.06 (Unmeasurable nuisance noise)
Noises or noise sources which because of the time when they are emitted or their quality, intensity, frequency or uniqueness, are not amenable to measurement as other noise sources described in this chapter, but which nevertheless are offensive or detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of other persons, or which substantially interfere with the reasonable quiet enjoyment of property by ot...
Amplified Music & Events
Sound-amplifying equipment is regulated in residential zones under Chapter 5-5, and Chapter 6-6 (Party Disturbances) makes hosting a party with sound 'plainly audible' at 50 feet or across a property line a citable offense with police-response cost recovery.
Amplified sound and party disturbances
Heavy RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code Sections 6-6.02 and 6-6.05 (Party Disturbances)
'Party disturbance' includes a sound which is plainly audible to a person of average hearing at a distance of 50 feet from the noisemaker, or across any property line from the noisemaker, whichever distance is less. Administrative costs relating to a violation of this chapter shall begin to accrue when police respond to a neighbor complaint under Section 6-6.03(a), and shall include the followi...
Aircraft Noise
Aircraft noise is federally preempted by the FAA; Santa Maria Public Airport District runs a voluntary noise advisory program using California's 65 dB CNEL significance threshold and refers safety complaints to the FAA Flight Standards District Office.
Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) aircraft noise
Few RestrictionsSanta Maria Public Airport District - Noise Advisory Program FAQ
Significant aircraft noise is defined in the state of California as Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) 65 decibels (dB). Noise Abatement Procedure information is routinely available for pilots from Air Traffic Control (ATC) on the Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS). SMX Noise abatement procedure reminders are available for pilots in the airfield near runways, and in FAA publishe...
Looking for Santa Barbara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Maria city rules.
Noise Ordinances in Santa Barbara County →