10 rules for unincorporated Imperial County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Imperial County sets nighttime quiet hours of 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. under Title 9, Division 7. During these hours the allowable one-hour average sound level drops, and amplified devices plainly audible at 50 feet become prima facie violations.
Unincorporated Imperial County's Title 9, Division 7 noise ordinance does not set specific construction work-hour windows. Construction equipment is defined and is subject to the County's general sound-level limits and nuisance prohibitions rather than a fixed start/stop time.
Title 9, Division 7, Section 90703.02 makes it unlawful to keep animals whose frequent or long-continued noise annoys a reasonable person nearby. Noise disturbing two or more adjacent households, or three or more nearby households, is prima facie evidence of a violation.
Imperial County's Title 9, Division 7 noise ordinance has no leaf-blower-specific section. Leaf blowers are regulated by the County's general sound-level limits and nuisance rule, plus California's statewide CARB phase-out of new gas-powered small off-road engines (effective 2024).
Title 9, Division 7, Section 90703.02 prohibits operating radios, amplifiers, instruments and similar devices so as to disturb the peace of a reasonable person in any residential or public area. Operation plainly audible at 50 feet between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. is prima facie evidence of a violation.
Imperial County's Title 9, Division 7 noise ordinance exempts helicopters at permitted heliports/helistops from its sound-level limits, and aircraft in flight are largely preempted by federal (FAA) law. The County manages aircraft compatibility through airport zoning and land use, not in-flight noise limits.
Title 9, Division 7, Section 90702.00 caps manufacturing, industrial, agricultural and extraction uses at 70 dB (one-hour average) at any time, and general industrial at 75 dB. Standard agricultural field operations are exempt under the County's Right to Farm approach.
Title 9, Division 7, Section 90702.00 sets one-hour average sound-level limits by zone, measured at the property line: 50 dB day / 45 night for R-1; 55 / 50 for other residential; 60 / 55 for commercial; and 70 to 75 dB anytime for industrial, agricultural and extraction uses.
Outdoor and amplified music in unincorporated Imperial County is governed by Title 9, Division 7. Playing radios or sound devices in public parks, beaches, lots or adjacent streets over 60 dB at 50 feet (or 60 CNEL) is prohibited without Parks Director approval, and nighttime devices plainly audible at 50 feet are prima facie violations.
Title 9, Division 7, Section 90702.01 makes it unlawful to operate a motor vehicle off public roads so as to exceed the noise limits set for on-highway vehicles under California Vehicle Code Section 23130, with distance corrections. Unnecessary horn use is also prohibited under Section 90703.02.
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