Fountain Valley, CA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)

Fountain Valley Municipal Code § 6.28.145 is the city's alternative noise prohibition. It makes it unlawful to wilfully make, continue, maintain or permit any loud, unnecessary and unusual noise that disturbs the peace or quiet of any residential neighborhood or causes discomfort or annoyance to any reasonable person of normal sensitivity residing in the area. It then sets a bright-line test: it is a prima facie violation if any radio, receiving set, television, musical instrument or similar device is played or used between the hours of nine p.m. and seven a.m. when audible from fifty feet from the property line of the noise source, or one hundred feet from any nonstationary noise source. A peace officer can make the determination, or it can be proven by the testimony of any other person, so no meter is needed.

The measured standards in § 6.28.050 apply on top of that. In Noise Zone 1, which covers all properties in residential zone districts, the exterior standard is 55 dB(A) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 50 dB(A) from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. When the noise consists entirely of impact noise, simple tone noise, speech, music, or any combination, each level is reduced by 5 dB(A). Time allowances scale up from the standard: more than thirty minutes in an hour at the standard, more than fifteen minutes at the standard plus 5 dB(A), more than five minutes at plus 10, more than one minute at plus 15, and any period at plus 20. Interior limits under § 6.28.060 are 55 dB(A) by day and 45 dB(A) at night, also reduced by 5 for music.

Other sections cover amplified sound in specific settings. Section 12.08.150 bars any sound-amplifying system in a city park without written permission from the community services director beforehand, though regular portable or vehicle radio use is excepted. Section 10.12.100 bars driving a vehicle with a sound-amplifying or loudspeaking device in use on any street or alley without written permission from the city traffic engineer. Section 6.28.070 exempts public dances held under a city permit and activities in publicly owned parks and playgrounds from Chapter 6.28.

The county health officer and authorized representatives enforce the chapter under § 6.28.110. A noise source owner can apply to the health officer for a variance with a seventy-five dollar fee under § 6.28.120.