Kings County, CA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)

Unlike many California cities, Kings County does not codify construction-specific noise hours (for example, weekday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) in its Code of Ordinances. There is no exemption schedule and no separate construction-noise section. Instead, jobsite noise in unincorporated Kings County is evaluated under the same nuisance rule that governs all noise: Section 15-211 prohibits noise that is physically annoying to a person of ordinary sensitivity, or so harsh, prolonged, unnatural, or unusual in its time or place as to interfere with the comfortable use and enjoyment of nearby property, or that constitutes a public or private nuisance. In practice this means routine daytime construction is generally tolerated, while early-morning, late-night, or weekend work that disturbs neighbors is more likely to be treated as a violation because the timing makes the noise unreasonable. The county may also impose noise-related conditions on specific projects through discretionary land-use permits and CEQA review handled by the Community Development Agency. Quantitative noise targets for new development appear in the General Plan Noise Element rather than in any construction ordinance. Incorporated cities set their own construction-hour rules and are not addressed here.