Manteca, CA Noise from Specific Sources: Car Alarm Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Auto-silence
- auto-silence within 5 minutes
- Max activations
- max 3 activations per 24 hours
- Enforcement
- police may deactivate the alarm
- Backup remedy
- tow under Vehicle Code § 22651.5
- Cost
- owner pays towing and storage
Summary
Manteca requires motor vehicle alarms to silence within five minutes and bars sounding one more than three times in 24 hours; police may deactivate a noncompliant alarm or have the vehicle towed.
Sounding or permitting the sounding of any motor vehicle alarm unless such alarm is terminated within five minutes of activation.
4. Sounding or permitting the sounding of any motor vehicle alarm more than three times of any duration in any twenty-four hour period.
I. Leaf Blowers. The use or operation or allowing the use or operation of any portable machine powered with a combustion, gasoline or electric powered engine used to blow leaves, dirt and other debris off sidewalks, driveways, lawns and other surfaces between the hours of ten p.m. and eight a.m. and is sufficiently loud as to be plainly audible at the property line of the property from which the sound is emanating.
J. Commercial Establishments Adjacent to Residential Property. Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, continuous, repeated or sustained noise from the premises of any commercial establishment which is adjacent to one or more residential dwelling units, including any outdoor area part of or under the control of the establishment, between the hours of ten p.m. and eight a.m. that is plainly audible from the residential dwelling unit's property line.
K. Construction Equipment. The use or operation of any construction equipment between the hours of eight p.m. and seven a.m. and is sufficiently loud as to be plainly audible at the property line of the property from which the sound is emanating. (Ord. 1374 § 1, 2007)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4829770; v11 updated 2026-04-21).
Full Breakdown
Manteca Municipal Code § 9.52.040(H) makes it unlawful to sound or permit sounding a motor vehicle alarm unless it terminates within five minutes of activation, or to sound one more than three times of any duration in a 24-hour period. Under § 9.52.100(A), the police department may take reasonably necessary steps to deactivate a violating alarm itself; if it cannot, an officer may have the vehicle towed under California Vehicle Code § 22651.5. The registered owner bears any towing and storage costs under § 9.52.100(B).
Violations & Fines
A violation is a misdemeanor under § 9.52.080, and the registered owner is separately liable for any towing or storage costs the city incurs deactivating or removing the vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can my car alarm legally sound before it's a violation?
What can police do about a car alarm that won't stop?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manteca
California rules heatmap·Compare Manteca to another location·View the California noise from specific sources overview
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Car Alarm Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Joaquin County handle car alarm limits.