Quiet hours in Sonoma County, CA — also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time — define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Unincorporated Sonoma County has no comprehensive noise-control ordinance setting fixed neighborhood quiet hours. Instead the General Plan Noise Element uses daytime (7 a.m.–10 p.m.) and nighttime (10 p.m.–7 a.m.) performance standards, and the Sheriff enforces California disturbing-the-peace law against loud, unreasonable nighttime noise.
Sonoma County government has never adopted a general municipal noise ordinance with set quiet hours for the unincorporated communities such as Guerneville, Boyes Hot Springs, El Verano, Forestville and Larkfield-Wikiup. The only noise chapter in the County Code (Chapter 3, Article III) regulates aircraft at the Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport, not residential neighborhoods. For everyday noise, the County relies on its 2008 General Plan Noise Element, which divides the day into a daytime period of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and a nighttime period of 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and sets lower allowable exterior noise levels at night (Table NE-2). These performance standards are applied chiefly when the County reviews new projects, use permits and special events rather than as a blanket curfew on residents. When neighbors create loud disturbances at night, enforcement falls to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office under California Penal Code section 415 (disturbing the peace by loud and unreasonable noise). A local news legal column has noted that the Sheriff typically issues a first warning, after which repeat disturbances can be cited. Residents are encouraged to document disturbances and, if needed, pursue a private nuisance remedy.
Loud nighttime disturbances are handled by the Sheriff under Penal Code 415: a warning is typically given first, then a citation. Penal Code 415 is punishable by up to 90 days in county jail, a fine of up to $400, or both. New land uses that exceed General Plan nighttime standards can be conditioned or denied during permit review.
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