Noise Ordinances in Stanislaus County, CA (2026)
8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Stanislaus County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Stanislaus County Code § 10.46.060(C) bars operating any audio equipment between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. so that it is audible inside another inhabited dwelling. Parallel subsections apply the same 10 p.m.-to-7 a.m. window to motor-vehicle sound systems and power tools, forming the county's general nighttime quiet-hours regime.
Stanislaus County Nighttime Noise Quiet Hours
Some RestrictionsStanislaus County Code § 10.46.060(C) (Ord. CS 1070, 2010)
Audio Equipment. No person shall operate any audio equipment, whether portable or not, between the hours of ten p.m. and seven a.m. such that the equipment is audible to the human ear inside an inhabited dwelling other than a dwelling in which the equipment may be located. No person shall operate any audio equipment, whether portable or not, at any other time such that the equipment is audible ...
Construction Hours
In unincorporated Stanislaus County, construction equipment cannot exceed a 75 decibel average sound level at the property line of any dwelling between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The limit applies on top of the general chapter-wide noise standards, and enforcement runs through the county's noise control ordinance.
Stanislaus County Construction Equipment Noise Limit
Some RestrictionsStanislaus County Code § 10.46.060(E)
Construction Equipment. No person shall operate any construction equipment so as to cause at or beyond the property line of any property upon which a dwelling unit is located an average sound level greater than seventy-five decibels between the hours of seven p.m. and seven a.m.
Barking Dogs
County code treats a barking or howling animal as a nuisance when it causes annoyance to two or more neighbors living in separate residences, or even just one if circumstances warrant. Section 7.16.020 sets a bright-line test: any animal noise audible continuously for ten minutes, or intermittently for thirty minutes, is prima facie evidence of a violation.
Stanislaus County Barking Dog Noise Rule
Some RestrictionsStanislaus County Code § 7.16.020
Keeping or maintaining, or permitting to be kept or maintained, upon any premises owned, occupied, or controlled by any person, any animal which, by any frequent or long continued noise, shall cause annoyance or discomfort to two or more reasonable persons of normal sensitiveness who reside in separate residences (including apartments and condominiums). However, the animal services authorized s...
Leaf Blower Rules
Stanislaus County exempts residential maintenance noise, lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and similar equipment, from its noise ordinance, but only between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Outside that window, the general exterior noise level standards apply.
Stanislaus County Leaf Blower Hours
Light RestrictionsStanislaus County Code § 10.46.080(K)
Residential Maintenance Activity. Noise associated with the maintenance of residential property, including, but not limited to, the operation of lawnmowers, leaf blowers, etc., provided such activity occurs between the hours of seven a.m. and ten p.m.
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Under Code § 10.46.060(D), sound-amplifying equipment and live music anywhere in unincorporated Stanislaus County may not be audible to the human ear beyond 200 feet from the source. The cap applies at all hours with no daytime exception, though it yields to any conflicting condition attached to a county land-use permit.
Stanislaus County Amplified Sound and Live Music Limit
Significant RestrictionsStanislaus County Code § 10.46.060(D) (Ord. CS 1070, 2010)
Sound-Amplifying Equipment and Live Music. No person shall install, use or operate sound-amplifying equipment, or perform, or allow to be performed, live music unless the sound emanating from the sound-amplifying equipment or live music shall not be audible to the human ear at a distance greater than two hundred feet. To the extent that these requirements conflict with any conditions of approva...
Aircraft Noise
Stanislaus County's noise control ordinance does not apply to aircraft, including helicopters. Chapter 10.46 exempts locomotives, railroad equipment, and aircraft outright, leaving helicopter noise to FAA and airport-specific regulation rather than county decibel limits.
Stanislaus County Helicopter/Aircraft Noise Exemption
Few RestrictionsStanislaus County Code § 10.46.080(F)
The following sources are exempt from the provisions of this chapter: ... F. Locomotives and other railroad equipment, and aircraft;
Decibel Limits
Stanislaus County Code § 10.46.050 sets maximum exterior sound levels for the unincorporated county based on the noise zone of the receiving property. Noise-sensitive sites and residential parcels drop to 45 dB(A) at night, commercial parcels run 55-60 dB(A), and industrial parcels stay at 75 dB(A) around the clock.
Stanislaus County Exterior Noise Decibel Limits
Some RestrictionsStanislaus County Code § 10.46.050(A)(1), Table A (Ord. CS 1070, 2010)
It is unlawful for any person at any location within the unincorporated area of the county to create any noise or to allow the creation of any noise which causes the exterior noise level when measured at any property situated in either the incorporated or unincorporated area of the county to exceed the noise level standards as set forth below: Table A EXTERIOR NOISE LEVEL STANDARDS Designated N...
Vehicle Noise
Stanislaus County's Noise Control Ordinance sets clock-based limits on car and truck stereos in the unincorporated county. Between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., a vehicle sound system can't be audible inside any inhabited dwelling at all; at any other hour, it can't be heard by ear more than fifty feet from the vehicle. The Sheriff's Office enforces the standard.
Stanislaus County Vehicle Sound System Noise Limit
Some RestrictionsStanislaus County Code § 10.46.060(A) (Specific noise source standards — Motor Vehicle Sound Systems)
Motor Vehicle Sound Systems. No person shall operate a motor vehicle sound system, whether affixed to the vehicle or not, between the hours of ten p.m. and seven a.m., such that the sound system is audible to the human ear inside any inhabited dwelling. No person shall operate a motor vehicle sound system, whether affixed to the vehicle or not, at any other time such that the sound system is au...
Noise Ordinances by City in Stanislaus County
1 cities in Stanislaus County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Stanislaus County ordinances
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