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

Unlike most California counties, the Yolo County Code does not have a general 'no construction before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m.' rule. Construction noise is regulated through three layers: (1) the general Zoning Code noise standards in sections 10-8.416 and 10-4.421, which cap noise at 80 dBA Leq daytime and 65 dBA Leq nighttime at the property line; (2) conditions of approval written into Site Plan Certificates, Minor Use Permits, and Major Use Permits for projects like wineries, special-event facilities, agricultural processing plants, and cannabis cultivation; and (3) a specific standard for oil and gas drilling operations under Yolo County Code section 8-2.306, which requires that '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.' 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.