Yolo County, CA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Yolo 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
- General construction curfew
- Not codified
- Daytime property-line cap
- 80 dBA Leq (6 a.m.-6 p.m.)
- Nighttime property-line cap
- 65 dBA Leq (6 p.m.-6 a.m.)
- Oil/gas drilling noise cap
- 60 dBA LDN at nearest residence
- Authority
- Yolo County Code Sec. 10-8.416 / 8-2.306(q)
- State Building Code
- Cal. Title 24
Summary
Yolo County does not impose a single countywide construction-hour curfew. Routine residential and farm construction is governed by the Title 8 property-line decibel limits (80 dBA Leq day / 65 dBA Leq night), and individual building permits, use permits, and oil-and-gas drilling permits set project-specific noise and hour conditions.
(i) Except for drill stem testing and emergency procedures, no drilling operation shall result in an ambient noise level in excess of 60 decibels (measured as an LDN average), measured at the outside of the nearest residence at the bedroom window closest to the drilling site; unless, however, it can be demonstrated that the ambient noise level at such location prior to the commencement of the drilling operation was 57 decibels or higher, then the noise standard shall be that the drilling operation does not result in the addition of more than three (3) decibels to the preexisting ambient noise level. The noise level requirements may be waived if the applicant has received a written waiver from the resident of any residence at which the noise level would exceed the standards set forth in this subsection. If the dwelling is leased, the tenant shall execute the waiver, and the property owner shall be notified.
Full Breakdown
' rule. ' For residential construction in the unincorporated area, contractors generally observe a Monday-Saturday daytime work pattern by industry custom, but the Code does not enforce a clock-based curfew. The California Building Standards Code (Title 24) applies to all construction.
Violations & Fines
Violation of property-line decibel limits is enforced by Community Services Department Code Enforcement through administrative citations and abatement. Use-permit condition violations can lead to permit revocation. Oil-and-gas drilling noise exceedances under Sec. 8-2.306 can lead to Use Permit revocation. Penal Code section 415 covers complaints that fall outside zoning enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours can a contractor work on my rural home outside Esparto or Capay?
Can my neighbor run a generator or pump at night?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yolo County
How Yolo County compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·California rules heatmap·Compare Yolo County to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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