Fresno County, CA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Fresno County, CA, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Weekday hours
- 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Weekend hours
- 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday
- treated as weekend, 7am-5pm
- Outside window
- must meet § 8.40.040 decibel table
- Governing section
- County Code § 8.40.060(C)
Summary
Fresno County exempts construction noise from its standard decibel limits only between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekends; construction noise outside those hours loses its exemption and must comply with the county's regular exterior noise table under County Code § 8.40.060(C).
The following activities shall be exempted from the provisions of this chapter:
A.Activities conducted in public parks, public playgrounds, and public or private school grounds, including, but not limited to, school athletic and school entertainment events;B.Any mechanical device, apparatus or equipment used, related to or connected with emergency activities or emergency work;C.Noise sources associated with construction, provided such activities do not take place before six a.m. or after nine p.m. on any day except Saturday or Sunday, or before seven a.m. or after five p.m. on Saturday or Sunday;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
050. 040, which caps continuous noise at 70 dBA daytime and 65 dBA nighttime and drops to 50 dBA daytime/45 dBA nighttime for shorter, intermittent noise. weekends) in the same section, so contractors working Saturdays face an earlier cutoff than homeowners running yard equipment. Ordinance No. 24-021, adopted December 17, 2024, is the current codification. 020(G).
Violations & Fines
Construction noise outside the permitted hours is measured against the § 8.40.040 table; exceeding it is a misdemeanor under § 8.40.120(B) with up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, or an administrative citation of $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second within six months, and $1,000 for later offenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time can construction start in unincorporated Fresno County?
How late can construction noise run on weekends?
What happens if a contractor works past the cutoff and neighbors complain?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fresno County
How Fresno County compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·California rules heatmap·Compare Fresno County to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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