Santa Rosa, CA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R1/R2 overnight cap
- 45 dB from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- R1/R2 daytime cap
- 55 dB from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Industrial cap
- 70 decibels at any hour
- Violation trigger
- More than 5 dB over ambient at property line
- Measurement method
- A-weighted sound level meter, 15-minute average
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor; each day is a separate offense
Summary
Santa Rosa sets numeric ambient noise ceilings by zoning district and time of day in Municipal Code Section 17-16.030. Residential (R1/R2) properties are capped at 45 decibels overnight and 55 during the day, while industrial zones may run up to 70 decibels at any hour. Exceeding the ambient level by more than five decibels at a property line is treated as prima facie proof of a violation.
The following criteria will be used as a base (ambient noise level) from which noise levels can be compared. Zone / Time / Sound Level A (decibels): R1 and R2, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., 45; R1 and R2, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., 50; R1 and R2, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 55; Multi-family, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., 50; Multi-family, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 55; Office & Commercial, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., 55; Office & Commercial, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 60; Intensive Commercial*, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., 55; Intensive Commercial, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 65; Industrial, Anytime, 70.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 17-16's Article I sets the noise chapter's numeric baseline. m. Multi-family zones run 50 dB overnight and 55 dB during the day. Office and Commercial zones are allowed 55 dB overnight and 60 dB by day, while zones mapped as Intensive Commercial under Appendix B may reach 55 dB overnight and 65 dB by day. Industrial zones are capped at 70 dB at any hour. These figures aren't a standalone limit on every noise source; they're the yardstick the rest of Chapter 17-16 measures against.
070 makes it a prima facie violation for any noise source, such as a radio, television, or musical instrument in a residential zone, to exceed the ambient base level at a neighboring property line, or in a condo or apartment within an adjoining unit, by more than five decibels. 040 separately lists factors the City weighs when deciding whether a noise is an unlawful disturbance regardless of the numeric baseline, including the noise's intensity, timing, duration, and whether it is natural or man-made. 010's definitions.
Violations & Fines
Any violation of Chapter 17-16 is a misdemeanor under Section 17-16.050, with each day a violation continues after notice to desist charged as a separate offense. Exceeding the ambient base level by more than five decibels at a property line creates a prima facie case against the noise source's operator under Section 17-16.070. The City can also pursue the noise as a public nuisance and seek a restraining order or injunction under Section 17-16.060.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the nighttime decibel limit in a Santa Rosa residential neighborhood?
How does the City decide if a specific noise breaks the law?
Are commercial zones allowed to be louder than residential zones?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Rosa
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Rosa to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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