Tehama County, CA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Tehama County applies noise limits two different ways in its unincorporated areas. For everyday nuisance complaints under Chapter 17.77 (Noise Control), the county relies on a plainly-audible standard: noise that can be clearly heard and repeated at or beyond 500 feet from the source's property line, supported by complaints from three or more residences, rather than a single fixed decibel number. For new land uses and development review, the Tehama County General Plan Noise Element sets numeric standards. Table 9-7 (Noise Standards for New Uses Affected by Non-Transportation Noise) establishes exterior activity-area limits of 50 dB Leq daytime and 45 dB Leq nighttime for all residential uses (35 dB interior day and night), 50/45 dB Leq exterior for hospitals and nursing homes, 55 dB exterior for transient lodging, schools, churches, offices and commercial buildings, 65 dB exterior for playgrounds and parks, and 65 dB Leq day and night exterior for industry (50 dB interior). The General Plan also provides that these standards are reduced by 5 dB for sounds consisting primarily of speech or music and for recurring impulsive sounds, and increased in 5 dB increments where the existing ambient already exceeds the standard. These numeric figures govern land-use compatibility and new projects; the 500-foot audibility test governs neighbor-to-neighbor complaints.