10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Tulare County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Tulare County has no single bright-line nighttime curfew. Instead, the Social Host Ordinance (Ordinance Code Section 5-01-1215(b)) caps amplified and excessive noise at 65 decibels at the property boundary, and the Public Nuisance Ordinance (Section 4-01-1070) bars noise offensive to the senses that disturbs a neighborhood.
Tulare County Ordinance Code § 5-01-1215(b)
Sound levels from Amplified Sound Devices and Excessive Noise Sources are prohibited from exceeding sixty-five (65) decibels, as measured at the boundary of the property on which the source of the noise or sound is located.
Unincorporated Tulare County does not have an ordinance setting specific permitted construction hours. Construction noise is governed by the general 65 dB boundary limit (Ordinance Code 5-01-1215(b)), the Public Nuisance Ordinance (4-01-1070), and General Plan Noise Element planning standards rather than a fixed start/stop time.
Tulare County Ordinance Code § 5-01-1210(k)
'Excessive Noise Sources' include, but are not limited to, non-amplified sounds arising from parties, such as shouting, group chanting, acoustic musical instruments. Additionally, the frequent, repetitive, or continuous sounds from starting, operating, repairing, rebuilding, or testing of motor vehicles, motorcycles, dirt bikes, or other off-highway vehicles, or any internal combustion engines,...
Unincorporated Tulare County prohibits animal noise as a public nuisance. Ordinance Code Section 4-07-3300 bars owners from permitting an animal to disturb a neighborhood by barking, howling, or other noise, and the definition in Section 4-07-1400 treats chronic loud noise over 15 minutes per incident as an Animal Nuisance.
Tulare County Ordinance Code § 4-07-3300(A)(1)
No owner of any animal shall do any of the following: 1. Permit such 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.
Unincorporated Tulare County has no leaf blower ordinance. Equipment noise falls under the general 65 dB boundary limit (Ordinance Code 5-01-1215(b)) and the public nuisance standard (4-01-1070). Statewide, California AB 1346 and the CARB Small Off-Road Engine rule bar the sale of new gas leaf blowers from model year 2024.
Unincorporated Tulare County's Social Host Ordinance (Ordinance Code 5-01-1215(b)) prohibits sound from amplified sound devices from exceeding 65 decibels at the property boundary. 'Amplified sound device' is defined broadly in Section 5-01-1210(j) to include loudspeakers, PA systems, car audio, radios, and players.
Tulare County Ordinance Code § 5-01-1210(j)
'Amplified Sound Device' refers to a device whose volume is increased by any electric, electronic, mechanical, or motor-powered means, including, but not limited to, loudspeakers, public address systems, car audio systems, radios, record players, tape players, disc players, MP3 players, iPods, phones, television sets.
Unincorporated Tulare County does not regulate aircraft noise. The County General Plan Noise Element states that aircraft operations are preempted by federal and state regulation and 'generally may not be addressed by a local noise control ordinance.' Aircraft noise is handled by the FAA and through airport land-use planning.
Tulare County General Plan, Noise Element (2012)
Noise from traffic on public roadways, railroad operations and aircraft operations is preempted by existing federal and/or state regulations. No noise-sensitive land uses which require approval under the Tulare County Zoning Ordinance or the Tulare County Subdivision Ordinance shall be permitted within the 60 CNEL contour of the public use airports identified in the Plan.
Industrial and stationary-source noise is controlled through the County General Plan Noise Element and discretionary land-use permits. New noise-generating industrial or commercial uses may not exceed 60 dB Ldn/CNEL at residential boundaries (Policy 4.B.1); foothill areas add 50/40 dB(A) hourly Leq limits (Policy 4.B.2).
The County's enforceable numeric limit is 65 decibels at the property boundary for amplified and excessive noise (Ordinance Code 5-01-1215(b)). The General Plan Noise Element adds planning standards of 60 dB Ldn/CNEL outdoor and 45 dB interior, with 50/40 dB(A) hourly Leq caps for new sources in foothill areas.
Outdoor music at parties and gatherings in unincorporated Tulare County is governed by the Social Host Ordinance (Ordinance Code 5-01-1215(b)), which caps amplified and non-amplified party noise at 65 dB at the property boundary. Non-amplified sounds like shouting, group chanting, and acoustic instruments are also covered.
Engine, motorcycle, and dirt bike noise are 'excessive noise sources' capped at 65 dB at the property boundary under Ordinance Code 5-01-1215(b). Off-road vehicle use near homes is restricted by Ordinance Code 4-23-1000. On public roads, California Vehicle Code Sections 27150-27151 (mufflers) control.
Tulare County Ordinance Code § 4-23-1005(f)-(g)
'Within one-half mile of' shall mean the distance measured from that part of a school, hospital, convalescent home, park or residential area closest to the point of operation of a motorcycle, motor bike or all-terrain vehicle. 'Residential area' shall mean any area one-quarter mile in depth abutting a public or private road, and one-quarter mile in length measured along such road, which contain...
2 cities in Tulare County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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