Noise Ordinances in Sacramento County, CA (2026)

7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 8 cities in Sacramento County, California.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Sacramento County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Quiet Hours

Sacramento County's 10 p.m.-to-7 a.m. quiet hours for shared-wall housing are numeric, not vague: Code § 6.68.080 caps noise heard inside a neighboring apartment, condo, townhouse, duplex or other multi-unit dwelling at 45 dBA for more than five minutes an hour, 50 dBA for more than a minute, and 55 dBA at any moment. An unusually loud ambient environment can raise those caps.

Sacramento County Interior Nighttime Noise Limit

Some Restrictions

Sacramento County Code § 6.68.080(a)-(b)

a. In any apartment, condominium, townhouse, duplex or multiple dwelling unit it is unlawful for any person to create any noise from inside his unit that causes the noise level when measured in a neighboring unit during the periods ten p.m. to seven a.m. to exceed: 1. Forty-five dBA for a cumulative period of more than five minutes in any hour; 2. Fifty dBA for a cumulative period of more than ...

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Construction Hours

Unincorporated Sacramento County bars construction, demolition, paving and grading noise from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weekdays, and further restricts weekend evening and Sunday work.

Sacramento County Construction Noise Hours

Some Restrictions

Sacramento County Code § 6.68.090(e)

Noise sources associated with construction, repair, remodeling, demolition, paving or grading of any real property, provided said activities do not take place between the hours of eight p.m. and six a.m. on weekdays and Friday commencing at eight p.m. through and including seven a.m. on Saturday; Saturdays commencing at eight p.m. through and including seven a.m. on the next following Sunday an...

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Barking Dogs

Owners can't let any animal make loud or disturbing noise without provocation, including chronic howling or barking, under the county's general animal control ordinance.

Sacramento County Barking Dog Nuisance

Some Restrictions

Sacramento County Code § 8.08.050(3)

No owner of any animal, wild or domestic, shall permit or suffer the animal to do any of the following: 1. Be at large (excepting the domestic cat); 2. Bite, scratch, or claw any human being or other animal without provocation; 3. Make loud or disturbing noises without provocation, including, but not limited to, chronic howling, yowling, barking, whining, or other utterances. Nothing c...

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Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

In any Sacramento County park facility, running sound amplification equipment louder than the noise levels set in Chapter 6.68 requires a permit from the Regional Parks Director. Section 9.36.072 makes unpermitted amplified sound in a park a licensing violation, and Section 9.36.050(C) backs it with an administrative fine set by the department's fee schedule.

Sacramento County Park Amplified Sound Permit

Some Restrictions

Sacramento County Code § 9.36.072; § 9.36.050(C)

Within any park facility, no person shall use sound amplification equipment in excess of the noise levels provided by Chapter 6.68 of this Code without a permit from the Director. ... When a permit is not obtained for Amplified Sound pursuant to Section 9.36.072, persons will be subject to an administrative fine for Non-Permitted Use for Amplified Sound as established pursuant to Section 9.36.0...

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Aircraft Noise

Taking off or landing at Sacramento Executive Airport is a misdemeanor under Code § 11.28.030 if the aircraft's take-off noise exceeds 84.0 EPNdB as listed in FAA advisory circulars. The Airport Director can also test unlisted aircraft models, notify base operators of violations, and post determinations, with a written first-offense warning option before any citation issues.

Sacramento County Executive Airport Noise Limit

Significant Restrictions

Sacramento County Code § 11.28.030; § 11.28.100

§ 11.28.030. Prohibited Aircraft Noise Level Defined. It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor for a person to take-off or land an aircraft at the Airport if the noise level for that model of aircraft exceeds 84.0 EPNdB, as said noise level is set forth in the Advisory Circular in the columns entitled "Meas EPNdB" or "M/Est EPNdB" as measured at take-off. ... § 11.28.100. Enforcement. The city ma...

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Decibel Limits

Sacramento County caps exterior noise in residential-zoned Noise Area 1 (RE-1 through AR-5, R-1-A through RM-2) at 55 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 50 dBA from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. under Code § 6.68.070. Brief loud sounds get graduated allowances, but tone, speech or music noise loses a 5 dBA cushion, and an already-loud ambient environment can push the ceiling higher.

Sacramento County Exterior Noise Decibel Limits

Some Restrictions

Sacramento County Code § 6.68.070(a)-(d)

a. The following noise standards, unless otherwise specifically indicated in this chapter, shall apply to all properties within a designated noise area. [Noise Area 1: County Zoning Districts RE-1, RD-1, RE-2, RD-2, RE-3, RD-3, RD-4, R-1-A, RD-5, R-2, RD-10, R-2A, RD-20, R-3, R-D-30, RD-40, RM-1, RM-2, A-1-B, AR-1, A-2, AR-2, A-5, AR-5; 7 a.m.-10 p.m. 55 dBA; 10 p.m.-7 a.m. 50dBA] b. It is unla...

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Vehicle Noise

On-road vehicle noise in unincorporated Sacramento County is governed mainly by California Vehicle Code muffler and exhaust laws (Sections 27150-27151), while the County Code addresses vehicle alarms and limits refuse-collection trucks to 75 dB at 50 feet.

Sacramento County Vehicle Noise

Some Restrictions

California Vehicle Code § 27150

(a) Every motor vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine and subject to registration shall at all times be equipped with an adequate muffler in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise, and no muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass, or similar device. (b) Except as provided in Division 16.5 (commencing with Sectio...

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