Quiet Hours: Petaluma vs Rohnert Park

Where are the dB limits measured?

At the property line of the receiving property in public or private open/outdoor space, not at the noise source.

What if my neighborhood is already noisy?

If ambient noise already exceeds 60 dB, the threshold is bumped up in 5 dB increments, but never above 75 dB total.

Does unincorporated Sonoma County have set quiet hours?

No. The County does not have a general noise ordinance setting fixed nighttime quiet hours for unincorporated lands. Only narrow topic ordinances apply (vacation rentals, animal noise, certain cannabis and event uses). For other disturbances, the 1992 disturbing-the-peace ordinance (Code Ch. 4 Art. VII) is enforced complaint-by-complaint.

Who do I call about a noisy neighbor in unincorporated Sonoma County?

Call the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line at (707) 565-2121. Under Chapter 4 Article VII, the first deputy response is a warning; later responses may carry a service fee against the offender.

Do city noise rules apply if I live outside city limits?

No. The noise ordinances of Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Sonoma, Healdsburg, Windsor, Sebastopol and other incorporated cities apply only inside their city boundaries. Properties in unincorporated areas (including river communities like Guerneville, Monte Rio, Rio Nido and the Sonoma Coast) are governed by County Code and state law.