10 rules for unincorporated Plumas County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Plumas County has no stand-alone numeric quiet-hours ordinance. Noise is regulated through the 2035 General Plan Noise Element (Goal N-3.1) and zoning code Section 9-2.413 (maximum allowable noise exposure within the Planning Land Use Category). Routine late-night noise complaints go to the Plumas County Sheriff non-emergency line, (530) 283-6300.
Under the 2035 General Plan Noise Element Policy N-3.1.4, construction in unincorporated Plumas County is meant to occur 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekends and federal holidays. Table 3-5 sets construction-noise limits by land use and time - for residential, 55 dBA Leq / 75 dBA Lmax during the day.
In unincorporated Plumas County, an animal whose sound disrupts the peace and quiet of the neighborhood is a public nuisance under the Animals chapter of the County Code (Title 6, Chapter 1). The Animal Control Director investigates complaints and may order the owner to abate the condition. Barking-dog complaints go to Plumas County Animal Services, (530) 283-3673.
Unincorporated Plumas County has no leaf-blower ordinance and sets no hours or model ban for blowers, mowers or chainsaws. Powered yard equipment is regulated only through the General Plan / Section 9-2.413 land-use noise standards. California's CARB rule phases out sales of new gas blowers (model year 2024), but that is an emissions rule, not a county noise law.
Unincorporated Plumas County has no separate amplified-sound ordinance. Stereos, loudspeakers and amplifiers are governed by the General Plan / Section 9-2.413 land-use noise standards, and County-permitted events and festivals are specifically exempt from the General Plan noise standards. Disturbance complaints go to the Plumas County Sheriff, (530) 283-6300.
Aircraft noise in flight is federally preempted and is not cited under Plumas County rules. The County instead manages airport noise through Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans and CNEL contours for its public-use airports - Gansner Field (Quincy), Rogers Field (Chester) and Nervino (Beckwourth) - consistent with General Plan policies N-3.1.5 and the FAA.
Industrial and stationary-source noise (sawmills, co-gen plants, aggregate/mining) in unincorporated Plumas County is regulated through the General Plan Noise Element and zoning Section 9-2.413. Industrial noise exceeding 60 dB at a noise-sensitive site - or causing interior levels above 45 dB - must be mitigated. Industrial construction noise can reach 90 dBA Lmax.
Unincorporated Plumas County's numeric noise limits come from the 2035 General Plan Noise Element and zoning Section 9-2.413, not a free-standing decibel ordinance. Construction-noise Table 3-5 sets residential limits of 55 dBA Leq (day) down to 45 dBA Leq (10 p.m.-7 a.m.), and a 60 dB CNEL threshold defines major noise sources.
Outdoor music in unincorporated Plumas County is regulated through the General Plan / Section 9-2.413 land-use noise standards, with no separate outdoor-event noise ordinance. County-permitted events and festivals - such as the High Sierra Music Festival at the Quincy fairgrounds - are exempt from the General Plan noise standards under Policy N-3.1.8 but are managed through their event permits.
On-road vehicle and exhaust noise in unincorporated Plumas County is governed by the California Vehicle Code, not a county ordinance. Vehicle Code Section 27150 requires an adequate, properly maintained muffler and bans cutouts/bypasses; Section 27151 prohibits modifying an exhaust to amplify noise. Enforcement is by the Sheriff and CHP.
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