10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Sonoma County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Sonoma County has no comprehensive noise-control ordinance setting fixed neighborhood quiet hours. Instead the General Plan Noise Element uses daytime (7 a.m.–10 p.m.) and nighttime (10 p.m.–7 a.m.) performance standards, and the Sheriff enforces California disturbing-the-peace law against loud, unreasonable nighttime noise.
Sonoma County Code Chapter 4, Article VII, §§ 4-101 to 4-105 (Ord. 4585/4606, 1992)
Chapter 4, Article VII — Disturbing the Peace (§§ 4-101 through 4-105). Sonoma County Sheriff's deputies may respond to complaints of disturbances of the peace; a service fee may be assessed against the offender on second and subsequent responses to the same address.
The County Code contains no countywide ordinance fixing construction start and stop times for unincorporated Sonoma County. Construction noise is generally addressed through project-specific conditions, the General Plan Noise Element standards, and Penal Code disturbing-the-peace law rather than a blanket hours rule.
Sonoma County General Plan Noise Element (Oct. 23, 2012); Sonoma County Code Chs. 7 & 11
Noise Element (Oct. 23, 2012). The County General Plan Noise Element addresses construction noise as a separate category from numeric exterior standards; construction-noise standards may be incorporated as conditions in building, grading, or use permits issued by Permit Sonoma, particularly where new construction is located near noise-sensitive uses.
Sonoma County Code section 5-126 makes it a public nuisance for an animal owner to allow a dog or other animal to disturb the neighborhood by barking, howling or making other noise. Animal Services investigates on written affirmation from neighbors and can order the nuisance abated.
Sonoma County Code § 5-126 (Animal Regulation Ordinance, Article X)
No owner shall permit an animal to obstruct the reasonable and comfortable use of property in any neighborhood or community by chasing vehicles, molesting passersby, barking, howling or making other noise. Any violation of this section is declared to be a public nuisance.
Sonoma County has no ordinance specifically restricting or banning leaf blowers in the unincorporated area. Leaf-blower noise is treated like other property-maintenance noise, addressed only if it becomes a loud, unreasonable disturbance under state law or General Plan performance standards.
California AB 1346 (2021-2022)
(1) Small off-road engines (SORE), which are used primarily in lawn and garden equipment, emit high levels of air pollutants, including oxides of nitrogen (NOx), reactive organic gases (ROG), and particulate matter (PM). NOx and ROG together contribute to formation of ozone, a criteria pollutant with a national ambient air quality standard set by the United States Environmental Protection Agenc...
Unincorporated Sonoma County has no dedicated amplified-music ordinance, but the General Plan Noise Element treats amplified sound as especially intrusive: stationary-source standards are reduced by 5 dBA for noise consisting primarily of speech or music. Loud amplified music can also be cited under state disturbing-the-peace law.
Sonoma County Code § 26-88-120 (Vacation Rentals)
Quiet hours shall be from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. ... Outdoor amplified sound shall not be allowed at any time associated with a vacation rental. ... Reduce the applicable standards above by five (5) dBA for simple tone noises, noises consisting primarily of speech or music, or for recurring impulsive noises, such as dog barking.
This is the one true Sonoma County noise ordinance: Code Chapter 3, Article III limits aircraft noise at the County-owned Sonoma County Airport. Section 3-41 caps takeoff noise at 83.2 dBA (Lmax) during the day and 72 dBA (Lmax) at night, enforced by the Director of Aviation with fines and operating bans.
Sonoma County Code, Chapter 3, Article III, Sec. 3-41 (Restrictions) (Ord. No. 4440, 1991)
It shall be unlawful for any person to ... operate any aircraft at the airport between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. which exceeds 83.2 dBA(Lmax) on takeoff; [or] between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. which exceeds 72 dBA (Lmax) on takeoff.
Industrial and commercial (stationary-source) noise in unincorporated Sonoma County is governed by the General Plan Noise Element's Table NE-2 performance standards, applied through zoning and use-permit review. New sources must not exceed daytime L50 of 50 dBA or nighttime L50 of 45 dBA at an adjacent noise-sensitive property line.
Sonoma County General Plan 2020, Noise Element, Policy NE-1c and Table NE-2
Policy NE-1c: Control non-transportation related noise from new projects. The total noise level resulting from new sources shall not exceed the standards in Table NE-2 as measured at the exterior property line of any adjacent noise sensitive land use. Limit exceptions to the following: (1) If the ambient noise level exceeds the standard in Table NE-2, adjust the standard to equal the ambient le...
Sonoma County has no enforceable countywide decibel ordinance for everyday noise. The General Plan Noise Element Table NE-2 sets exterior performance standards for stationary sources — daytime L50 of 50 dBA and nighttime L50 of 45 dBA at a neighbor's property line — applied mainly through project and permit review.
Sonoma County General Plan Noise Element, Table NE-2 (Maximum Allowable Exterior Noise Exposures for Non-transportation Noise Sources)
L50 (30 minutes in any hour): 50 dBA daytime (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.), 45 dBA nighttime (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.); L25 (15 minutes): 55/50 dBA; L08 (4 min 48 sec): 60/55 dBA; L02 (72 seconds): 65/60 dBA.
Outdoor music, concerts and special events in unincorporated Sonoma County are regulated through the use-permit and special-event review process rather than a fixed noise ordinance. The General Plan Noise Element flags amplified outdoor sound as a key concern and applies stationary-source standards, reduced 5 dBA for music.
Vehicle noise in unincorporated Sonoma County is governed by California state law, not a County ordinance. Vehicle Code 27150 requires an adequate muffler at all times, and 27151 bans modified exhaust that amplifies noise. The Sheriff and CHP enforce these rules; the County encourages active state enforcement.
California Vehicle Code Sections 27150-27151
[Veh. Code Sec. 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. [Veh. Code Sec. 27151(a)] A person shall ...
4 cities in Sonoma County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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