10 rules for unincorporated Mono County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Mono County sets nighttime quiet hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. under Noise Regulation Chapter 10.16. At night a sound source may exceed background noise by only 5 dBA before it is a violation, versus 10 dBA during the 7 a.m.-10 p.m. daytime period.
In unincorporated Mono County, construction, demolition and earthmoving may not operate between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays, or at any time on weekends or legal holidays, except for emergency utility or road work or by county variance. Construction noise also has dBA limits by land use.
Unincorporated Mono County prohibits noisy dogs under its animal code. Section 9.36.030 makes it unlawful to permit a dog in your possession or control to habitually destroy the peace and quiet of any person or neighborhood by habitual barking or howling. The noise ordinance separately covers animal noise across property lines.
Unincorporated Mono County does not ban leaf blowers, but its Noise Regulation limits when powered lawn and garden equipment may run. Such tools are exempt only between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekdays, and 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays, if they stay under 85 dBA at the property line.
Unincorporated Mono County restricts amplified sound under its Noise Regulation. Radios, TVs, musical instruments and similar devices may not be played between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. so as to create a noise disturbance across a property line. Loudspeakers and PA systems are similarly barred during those hours.
Aircraft and airport noise in unincorporated Mono County is not set by the county noise ordinance. Aircraft operations are governed by federal FAA rules, and land use near county airports is controlled through Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans for Bryant Field, Lee Vining and Mammoth Yosemite Airport using the CNEL metric.
Unincorporated Mono County caps noise from industrial, light-industrial, utility, mining, ranching and agricultural land uses at 65 dBA at all times under Table 10.16.060(A). Engine-powered equipment must have working silencers, and motors, pumps and generators must be muffled to avoid a noise disturbance.
Unincorporated Mono County sets absolute exterior decibel limits by land use in Table 10.16.060(A). Residential, lodging and public uses are capped at 55 dBA daytime and 50 dBA nighttime; commercial and industrial uses at 65 dBA at all times. A noise disturbance is also defined relative to background sound.
Unincorporated Mono County restricts outdoor amplified sound after 10:00 p.m. under its Noise Regulation, but permits occasional outdoor gatherings, dances, shows and entertainment events when held under a county permit or license. Without a permit, outdoor music must stay within the land-use decibel limits.
Unincorporated Mono County's Noise Regulation does not set a separate motor-vehicle decibel limit; on-highway vehicle noise is governed by California state law. The county code does require that motors and machinery be muffled, and it limits vehicle burglar alarms to a five-minute shutoff.
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