Noise Ordinances in Butte County, CA (2026)
6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Butte County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Construction Hours
Butte County bars construction, repair, remodeling, demolition, paving or grading noise within 1,000 feet of residential uses from sunset to sunrise on weekdays, after 6 p.m. Friday through 8 a.m. Saturday, after 6 p.m. Saturday through 10 a.m. Sunday, and after 6 p.m. Sunday under Code of Ordinances Sec. 41A-9(f).
Butte County construction noise hours
Some RestrictionsButte County Code of Ordinances § 41A-9(f)
Noise sources associated with construction, repair, remodeling, demolition, paving or grading of any real property or public works project located within one thousand (1,000) feet of residential uses, provided said activities do not take place between the following hours: • Sunset to sunrise on weekdays and non-holidays; • Friday commencing at 6:00 p.m. through and including 8:00 a.m. on Saturd...
Barking Dogs
Chapter 4, Article IA of the Butte County Code lets Animal Control issue civil citations for chronic barking. A dog qualifies as a nuisance once it barks, howls or cries for sixty minutes total, continuous or broken, within any 24-hour period. Two neighbors from separate households must file signed complaints, and the owner gets ten days to fix the problem before a citation issues under Section 4-14.3.
Butte County Barking Dog Nuisance Citation Law
Some RestrictionsButte County Code of Ordinances § 4-14.2
"Barking dog" means a dog that barks, bays, cries, howls or makes any noise for an extended period of time to the disturbance of any person at any time of day or night, regardless of whether the dog is physically situated in or upon private property. Such extended period of time shall consist of incessant barking for sixty (60) minutes or more in any twenty-four-hour period, or intermittent bar...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Operating a sound truck with amplifying equipment in unincorporated Butte County means registering with the Sheriff first and then obeying strict limits: no more than fifteen watts of output, no sound audible beyond one hundred feet, and only four hours of operation a day split into two narrow windows.
Butte County Sound Truck Amplified Noise Limits
Significant RestrictionsButte County Code of Ordinances §§ 14-3, 14-4
"Sound truck" shall mean any motor vehicle, or horse-drawn vehicle, having mounted thereon, or attached thereto, any sound amplifying equipment. ... Operations are permitted for four hours each day, except on Sundays and legal holidays when no operations shall be authorized. The permitted four hours of operation shall be between the hours of 11:30 A.M., and 1:30 P.M., and between the hours of 4...
Aircraft Noise
In Butte County's AIR special purpose zone near county airports, new buildings must block out aircraft noise instead of the county limiting flight operations. Butte County Code of Ordinances Section 24-30(C)(2) requires structures to be designed and constructed so indoor noise never exceeds forty-five decibels during aircraft operation, a plan-check standard enforced by the Department of Development Services before a building permit issues.
Butte County Airport Zone Indoor Aircraft Noise Cap
Some RestrictionsButte County Code of Ordinances § 24-30(C)(2)
C.Additional AIR Zone Standards.1.Performance Standards. Any use that is not primarily aeronautic in nature shall not produce glare, heat, noise, or odor above ambient levels at the property line.2.Building and Development Standards. All structures shall be designed and constructed to limit indoor noise levels to no greater than forty-five (45) decibels during aircraft operation.3.Minimum Requi...
Decibel Limits
Butte County Code Section 41A-7 sets exterior noise limits by zone and time of day: an hourly average of 55 dBA in urban areas and 50 dBA in non-urban areas by day, dropping to 45 dBA urban and 40 dBA non-urban at night. Maximum peak levels run higher, from 70 dBA urban daytime down to 50 dBA non-urban nighttime.
Butte County Exterior Noise Decibel Limits
Some RestrictionsButte County Code of Ordinances § 41A-7
(a)The following noise standards, unless otherwise specifically indicated in this chapter, shall apply to all noise sensitive exterior areas within Butte County. Daytime (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Evening (7 p.m. to 10 p.m.) Nighttime (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.) Noise Level Descriptor Urban Non-Urban Urban Non-Urban Urban Non-Urban Hourly Average (Leq) 55 50 50 45 45 40 Maximum (Lmax) 70 60 60 55 55 50 (b)It i...
Vehicle Noise
Butte County bans operating a recreational off-road vehicle so its noise exceeds the county's interior or exterior noise-sensitive-area standards, and requires every off-road vehicle to carry a USDA Forest Service-approved or manufacturer-certified spark arrestor under Code of Ordinances Sec. 41A-11.
Butte County off-road vehicle noise rules
Some RestrictionsButte County Code of Ordinances § 41A-11
It is unlawful for any person to operate any recreational off-road vehicle within the County in such a manner that the noise level exceeds the noise standards specified above at either interior or exterior spaces of noise sensitive areas, or as specified under Exemptions above. All vehicles must have a USDA Forest Service approved, or manufacturer certified, spark arrestor.
Noise Ordinances by City in Butte County
1 cities in Butte County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Butte County ordinances
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