Rohnert Park, CA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R1/R2 nighttime limit
- 45 dB, 10 p.m.-7 a.m.
- R1/R2 daytime limit
- 55 dB, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
- R3/R4 limit
- 50-55 dB
- Commercial limit
- 55-60 dB
- Industrial limit
- 70-75 dB, any time
- Penalty
- misdemeanor, up to $500/6 months jail
- Enforced by
- Rohnert Park Dept. of Public Safety
Summary
Rohnert Park caps noise at the property line by zone and time of day: 45 decibels overnight in R1/R2 residential zones, up to 55 decibels there by day, and as high as 75 decibels in general industrial zones at any hour. Any reading over the ambient base level counts as evidence of a violation under Chapter 9.44.
9.44.040 - Ambient base noise level. Where the ambient noise level is less than designated in this section the respective noise level in this section shall govern. Zone Time Sound Level A, Decibels Community
Environment Classification Rl and R2 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. 45 R1 and R2 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. 40 Rl and R2 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 55 R3 and R4 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. 50 R3 and R4 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 55 Commercial 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. 55 Commercial 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 60 Limited indust. Anytime 70
General indust. Anytime 75 ... 9.44.230 - Violation—Misdemeanors. Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in an amount not exceeding five hundred dollars or be imprisoned in the city or county jail for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each day such violation is committed or permitted to continue constitutes a separate offense and is punishable as such.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
030. heading into that quiet period, and 55 decibels during the day. Multi-family zones (R3 and R4) run 50 decibels overnight and 55 decibels by day. Commercial property is capped at 55 decibels at night and 60 during the day, while limited and general industrial zones may run at 70 and 75 decibels respectively at any hour. 020, "ambient noise" is the composite background sound level averaged over a fifteen-minute period, excluding isolated identifiable sources, at the time and location being compared. 050. Rohnert Park's department of public safety enforces the chapter and investigates complaints. depending on location.
Violations & Fines
A confirmed violation of Chapter 9.44, including exceeding the § 9.44.040 decibel table, is a misdemeanor under § 9.44.230: a fine of up to five hundred dollars, up to six months in the county jail, or both. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense, so a persistent noise source can be cited repeatedly. The city may also pursue a restraining order or injunction under § 9.44.240 as an abatement remedy independent of any criminal citation, and public safety officers document ambient exceedances with a calibrated sound level meter before issuing a citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the nighttime noise limit for houses in Rohnert Park?
How does the city prove a noise complaint?
What happens if I'm cited for violating the noise ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rohnert Park
California rules heatmap·Compare Rohnert Park to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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