Noise Ordinances in Imperial County, CA (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Imperial County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Imperial County treats any radio, speaker, or amplified device audible from 50 feet away between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. as automatic evidence of a noise violation, regardless of the measured decibel level.
Imperial County Nighttime Noise Curfew
Some RestrictionsImperial County Code § 90703.02(B)(2)
The operation of any such device between the hours of ten p.m. and seven a.m. in such a manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of fifty (50) feet from the building, structure, or vehicle in which it is located, shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.C.Animals.1.The keeping or maintenance or the permitting to be kept or maintained upon any premises owned, occupied, o...
Barking Dogs
Imperial County treats a pet's frequent or long-continued noise as a public nuisance when it annoys a reasonable neighbor, with two or more separate adjacent households complaining, or three nearby, serving as automatic proof of a violation.
Imperial County Barking Dog Nuisance Rule
Some RestrictionsImperial County Code § 90703.02(C)(1)
The keeping or maintenance or the permitting to be kept or maintained upon any premises owned, occupied, or controlled by any person of any animal or animals which by any frequent or long-continued noise, shall cause annoyance or discomfort to a reasonable person of normal sensitiveness in the vicinity.2.The noise from any such animal or animals that disturbs two or more residents residing in s...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Imperial County prohibits operating radios, speakers, or sound amplifiers loud enough to disturb the peace and quiet of a reasonable person in any residential or public area, with an exception for licensed parades and county-authorized events.
Imperial County Amplified Sound Ban
Some RestrictionsImperial County Code § 90703.02(B)(1)
The use, operation, or permitting to be played, used or operated, any sound production or reproduction device, radio receiving set, musical instrument, drum phonograph, television set, loud speakers and sound amplifiers or other machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound in such a manner as to disturb the peace, quiet, and comfort of any reasonable person of normal sensitivity ...
Aircraft Noise
Imperial County exempts helicopters operating at a heliport or helistop approved by conditional use permit from the county's general zone-based sound level limits.
Imperial County Heliport Noise Exemption
Few RestrictionsImperial County Code § 90702.00(E)
This section does not apply to noise generated by helicopters at heliports or helistops authorized by a conditional use permit.F.This section does not apply to noise generated by standard agricultural field operating practices such as planting and harvesting of crop. The county of Imperial has a Right to Farm Ordinance (1031) which serves as recognition to agricultural practices to new developm...
Decibel Limits
Imperial County sets one-hour average sound level caps by zoning district and time of day, from 45 dB overnight in R-1 residential zones up to 75 dB anytime in general industrial zones, measured at the property line.
Imperial County Decibel Limits By Zone
Some RestrictionsImperial County Code § 90702.00(A)
It is unlawful for any person to cause noise by any means to the extent that the applicable one-hour average sound level set out in the following table is exceeded, at any location in the county of Imperial on or beyond the boundaries of the property on which the noise is produced. Total of Applicable Limits Land Use Zone Time of Day One Hour Average Sound Level (decibels) 1. Residential:...
Vehicle Noise
Imperial County bars operating a motor vehicle off a public street or highway at noise levels above what the California Vehicle Code allows on-highway vehicles going 45 mph or less.
Imperial County Off-Highway Vehicle Noise Limit
Some RestrictionsImperial County Code § 90702.01(A)
Except as otherwise provided for in this article, it is unlawful to operate any motor vehicle of any type on any site, other than a public street or highway as defined in the California Vehicle Code, in any manner so as to cause noise in excess of these noise levels permitted for on-highway motor vehicles as specified in the table for "45 mile-per-hour or less speed limits" contained in Section...
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