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 § 5-5.04(a)
(a) A violation shall be determined to exist when the noise level exceeds the ambient noise level or the ambient base noise level, whichever is higher, as follows: (1) By any amount 30 minutes for any given hour, measured cumulatively; (2) By five dB(A), 15 minutes for any given hour; (3) By 10 dB(A), five minutes for any given hour; (4) By 20 dB(A) at any time.
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 § 5-5.06(e)
(e) Noise of construction caused by hand tools, power tools or equipment, when the noise occurs at a time other than: (1) between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday; or (2) between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Saturday through Sunday; or (3) allowed by permit issued by the Noise Control Officer.
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
Light RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 5-5.06(a)
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 & Outdoor Sound
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
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 5-5.02
"Sound amplifying equipment" means any machine or device for the amplification of the human voice, music or any other sound. "Sound amplifying equipment" does not include standard automobile radios when used and heard only by the occupants of the vehicle in which the automobile radio is installed. "Sound amplifying equipment" does not include warning devices on authorized emergency vehicles or ...
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
Some 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 →