San Luis Obispo County, CA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime Leq limit
- 50 dB (7 a.m.-10 p.m.)
- Nighttime Leq limit
- 45 dB (10 p.m.-7 a.m.)
- Daytime max
- 70 dB
- Nighttime max
- 65 dB
- Music/speech penalty
- Standard reduced by 5 dB
- Governing section
- County Code § 22.10.120(B)
Summary
In unincorporated inland San Luis Obispo County, noise reaching a home, school, church, hospital or similar sensitive use may not exceed a 50 dB hourly average by day or 45 dB at night, with a 70/65 dB hard ceiling and a 5 dB penalty for music or speech.
B.Exterior noise level standards. ...1.No person shall create any noise or allow the creation of any noise at any location within the unincorporated areas of the county on property owned, leased, occupied or otherwise controlled by the person which causes the exterior noise level when measured at any of the preceding noise-sensitive land uses situated in either the incorporated or unincorporated areas to exceed the noise level standards in the following table. Hourly Equivalent Sound Level (Leq, dB): Daytime (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) 50; Nighttime (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) 45. Maximum level, dB: Daytime 70; Nighttime 65. 3.Each of the exterior noise level standards specified in Subsection B.1 shall be reduced by five dB for simple tone noises, noises consisting primarily of speech or music, or for recurring impulsive noises.
Full Breakdown
120(B) of the Inland Land Use Ordinance sets the exterior noise standard for the unincorporated inland areas of the county, applying wherever a noise-sensitive use such as a residence, hospital, hotel, school, church, library or outdoor recreation area is the receiver. ), with an absolute maximum of 70 dB by day and 65 dB at night. Outdoor sports and recreation receivers get the standard raised by 10 dB. If ambient noise already exceeds the standard, the limit floats up to ambient plus 1 dB; if the noise is simple-tone, speech, or music, or is a recurring impulsive noise, the applicable standard is instead reduced by 5 dB.
Interior standards under Subsection C are stricter still for noise crossing between two residential uses: 40 dB Leq / 60 dB max by day, 35 dB Leq / 55 dB max at night. ), agricultural operations, utility maintenance, and traffic, rail, and aircraft noise preempted by state or federal law.
Violations & Fines
Creating exterior noise above the applicable Leq or maximum dB standard at a noise-sensitive receiving use, measured under Section 22.10.120(E) with a calibrated A-weighted sound meter at the property line, is a violation of Section 22.10.120(B) that can be pursued as a code enforcement or public nuisance matter against the person controlling the noise source.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the nighttime noise limit at my property line in unincorporated SLO County?
Is loud music held to a stricter standard than other noise?
Does this dB standard apply to noise from a farm or construction site?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Luis Obispo County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Luis Obispo County to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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