Noise Ordinances in Sonoma, CA (2026)
6 verified noise ordinances for Sonoma, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Construction Hours
The City of Sonoma restricts construction noise to set hours under Sonoma Municipal Code Section 9.56.050(A): 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sundays and city-designated holidays, with an outright 90 dBA cap at the property line.
City of Sonoma Construction Noise Hours
Some RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 9.56.050
9.56.050 Standard exceptions to general noise limits. The following standard exceptions to the provisions of SMC 9.56.040 shall be allowed as of right, to the extent and during the hours specified. A summary of the standard exceptions provided in this section is set forth in Table 2. A. Construction. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (B) of this section, or by the planning commission o...
Barking Dogs
Sonoma Municipal Code § 8.06.140 bars any animal owner from letting their pet interfere with a neighbor's reasonable use and enjoyment of residential property through continuous barking or howling. The City of Sonoma investigates only when an officer directly witnesses it or when two or more residents from separate households file a written complaint.
Sonoma Barking Dog Nuisance Rule
Some RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 8.06.140
No owner or person in control of any animal shall permit such animal to interfere with the reasonable use and enjoyment of private residential property by continuous barking or howling. It is the policy of the city to investigate or enforce this section only as follows: A. Whenever the animal care and control officer has witnessed or otherwise has reasonable cause to believe this section has be...
Leaf Blower Rules
The City of Sonoma bans gas-powered leaf blowers outright, citywide, at any time. Electric leaf blowers are allowed only Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding city-designated holidays, under SMC Chapter 9.60.
Leaf Blower Ordinance, City of Sonoma
Heavy RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 9.60.030
A. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Sonoma Municipal Code to the contrary, in, on or upon any and all properties and areas within the city's corporate boundaries: 1. It is unlawful for any property owner (including the city) or tenant or any employee, agent or contractor working for a property owner or tenant to operate or authorize the operation of a gas-powered leaf blower at any ti...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
In the City of Sonoma, a business next to a public street or sidewalk cannot aim amplified, transmitted or recorded sound at that right-of-way. SMC 9.56.080(B) bars the practice outright, on top of the general decibel limits the noise chapter sets for other sources.
Amplified Sound Toward Streets, City of Sonoma
Some RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 9.56.080(B)
B. Public Rights-of-Way. The direction of any amplified, transmitted or recorded sound toward a public right-of-way from a business adjacent to such right-of-way is prohibited.
Aircraft Noise
The City of Sonoma bans launching or landing airplanes, helicopters, balloons, and similar aircraft anywhere within city limits that is not designated as an airport or landing pad, citing hazard and annoyance to residents. Parachute landings face the same restriction under SMC Chapter 9.69.
Aircraft Landing/Launch Ban, City of Sonoma
Heavy RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 9.69.010
The city council finds that the launching, take-off or landing of any airplane, helicopter, balloon, rocket, or other machine or device designed for propulsion into or navigation within air space which is subject to federal law or regulation pertaining to air navigation, in any place within the city limits not zoned or specifically set apart for use as an airport or launching or landing pad und...
Decibel Limits
The City of Sonoma sets numeric decibel ceilings by zone and time of day under Sonoma Municipal Code Section 9.56.040. Residential property is capped at 60 dBA intermittent/50 dBA constant by day and 50/40 dBA at night; commercial and mixed-use property gets a flatter 65/55 dBA ceiling.
City of Sonoma Noise Decibel Limits by Zone
Some RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 9.56.040
9.56.040 General noise limits. ... A summary of the general noise limits set forth in this section is set forth in Table 1. ... +-----------------------+---------------------------+--------------------------+ | ... Property Type or Zone | Daytime Limits | Nighttime Limits | +-----------------------+---------------------------+--------------------------+ | Residential ...
Looking for Sonoma County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Sonoma city rules.
Noise Ordinances in Sonoma County →