Quiet Hours: Rohnert Park vs Santa Rosa
How do quiet hours rules compare between Rohnert Park, CA and Santa Rosa, CA?
Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa have similar restriction levels.
Rohnert Park, CA
Sonoma County
Unincorporated Sonoma County does not use a single numeric quiet-hour ordinance; instead it enforces the Sonoma County General Plan Noise Element (adopted 2008, amended October 23, 2012) and Chapter 3, Article III - Noise Control of the Sonoma County Code, with the Sheriff and Permit Sonoma Code Enforcement responding to complaints. Under Table NE-2 of the Noise Element, non-transportation noise sources at the property line of a residential receiver may not exceed 50 dBA (L50) during daytime hours of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 45 dBA (L50) during nighttime hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., with higher short-duration limits of 55/60/65 dBA daytime and 50/55/60 dBA nighttime for the L25, L08, and L02 statistical percentiles.
View full Rohnert Park rules →Santa Rosa, CA
Sonoma County
Santa Rosa regulates noise under City Code Chapter 17-16. Unreasonable noise that disturbs the peace of residential neighborhoods is prohibited, with stricter enforcement during nighttime hours from 10 PM to 7 AM.
View full Santa Rosa rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Rohnert Park | Santa Rosa |
|---|---|---|
| Code Reference | Sonoma County Code Ch. 3 Art. III; General Plan Noise Element Table NE-2 | - |
| Daytime Limit | 50 dBA L50 (7am-10pm) residential property line | - |
| Nighttime Limit | 45 dBA L50 (10pm-7am) residential property line | - |
| Short-Duration Day | 55/60/65 dBA L25/L08/L02 | - |
| Short-Duration Night | 50/55/60 dBA L25/L08/L02 | - |
| Sheriff Dispatch | 707-565-2511 (non-emergency) | - |
| Code Enforcement | Permit Sonoma 707-565-1900 | - |
| Cities Excluded | Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Sonoma, etc. - own codes | - |
| Quiet Hours | - | 10 PM–7 AM general; 9 PM–8 AM for STRs |
| Code Section | - | Chapter 17-16 |
| Standard | - | Unreasonably loud / audible beyond property line |
| Enforcement | - | Santa Rosa Police Department |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Rohnert Park FAQ
What are the official quiet hours in unincorporated Sonoma County?
Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. under the General Plan Noise Element. During those hours, non-transportation noise at the property line of a residence may not exceed 45 dBA (L50) - roughly the level of a quiet refrigerator. Daytime limit (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) is 50 dBA. Brief peaks are allowed up to 60 dBA at night and 65 dBA in the day under the L02 standard. These numbers apply only to unincorporated areas; cities like Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Sonoma, and Healdsburg have their own ordinances.
Who do I call about noise in unincorporated Sonoma County?
For active disturbances - loud parties, amplified music, barking dogs at night - call the Sonoma County Sheriff non-emergency line at 707-565-2511. For ongoing land-use noise problems like a winery event center, cannabis facility, or commercial operation exceeding Noise Element standards, file a complaint with Permit Sonoma Code Enforcement at 707-565-1900 or through the Permit Sonoma online complaint portal. The Sheriff dispatches deputies and issues citations under Chapter 3, Article III; Code Enforcement handles permit-condition violations and chronic nuisance cases.
Do these limits apply at wineries and tasting rooms?
Yes. Wineries, tasting rooms, and event centers in unincorporated Sonoma County must comply with the General Plan Noise Element limits as a condition of their use permit under Chapter 26 of the Zoning Code. The December 9, 2025 Winery Events Ordinance (effective June 9, 2026) adds specific setbacks - amplified outdoor music at least 1,600 feet from adjacent property, acoustic music at least 625 feet, parking at least 450 feet - and caps periodic special events at 2,500 attendees. Violations can result in revocation of the use permit, not just monetary fines.
Santa Rosa FAQ
What are the quiet hours in Santa Rosa?
General nighttime quiet hours are 10 PM to 7 AM. Short-term rental properties have stricter quiet hours from 9 PM to 8 AM under Chapter 20-48.
How do I file a noise complaint in Santa Rosa?
Contact the Santa Rosa Police Department non-emergency line to report noise disturbances.
Compare other topics
See how Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool