Sonoma County has no enforceable countywide decibel ordinance for everyday noise. The General Plan Noise Element Table NE-2 sets exterior performance standards for stationary sources — daytime L50 of 50 dBA and nighttime L50 of 45 dBA at a neighbor's property line — applied mainly through project and permit review.
The decibel numbers that govern noise in unincorporated Sonoma County come from the General Plan Noise Element, not from a general noise ordinance. Its Table NE-2, 'Maximum Allowable Exterior Noise Exposures for Non-transportation Noise Sources,' uses statistical (percentile) descriptors measured at the property line of an adjacent noise-sensitive use. During the daytime period (7 a.m.–10 p.m.) the limits are: L50 (level exceeded 30 minutes per hour) = 50 dBA; L25 = 55 dBA; L08 = 60 dBA; and L02 (brief peaks) = 65 dBA. During the nighttime period (10 p.m.–7 a.m.) each limit is 5 dBA lower: L50 = 45, L25 = 50, L08 = 55, and L02 = 60 dBA. The County also designates an area as 'noise impacted' if exterior levels exceed 60 dB Ldn or 60 dB CNEL. Policy NE-1c reduces the Table NE-2 limits by 5 dBA for tonal noise, speech, music or recurring impulsive sounds (such as pile drivers or kennel dog barking), and allows limited upward adjustment where the existing ambient level is already higher. These are performance standards used when reviewing discretionary projects and use permits rather than a citable, on-the-spot decibel ceiling for residents. A codifier excerpt with the full table appears below.
These standards are enforced through Permit Sonoma's project and use-permit review, including conditions of approval, acoustical analysis requirements, and monitoring, rather than fixed per-incident fines. New stationary sources that exceed Table NE-2 at an adjacent noise-sensitive property can be conditioned, mitigated or denied.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Rohnert Park, CA
Parking or storing large commercial vehicles in Rohnert Park residential zones is restricted by zoning, with weight/length thresholds limiting what may be ke...
Rohnert Park, CA
Driveway approaches in Rohnert Park require an encroachment permit and must meet city standards; vehicles generally must be parked on an approved paved surfa...
Rohnert Park, CA
RV, trailer and boat storage on residential lots in Rohnert Park is regulated by zoning, which restricts placement (typically a paved area) and prohibits liv...
Rohnert Park, CA
On-street parking in Rohnert Park is governed by the city vehicle code; a vehicle left on a street more than 72 hours is deemed abandoned under CA Vehicle Co...
Rohnert Park, CA
Shared boundary fences in California are governed by the Good Neighbor Fence Act (CA Civil Code §841), presuming adjoining owners share the cost of a boundar...
Rohnert Park, CA
Rohnert Park zoning permits standard residential fence materials (wood, vinyl, masonry, ornamental metal, chain link). Barbed wire, razor wire and electric f...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Sonoma County.
See how Rohnert Park's decibel limits rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.