Fresno, CA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Fresno, CA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Code Section
- Fresno Municipal Code sec. 10-102(b), 10-105, 10-106
- Residential night limit (10 PM-7 AM)
- 50 dBA
- Residential evening limit (7 PM-10 PM)
- 55 dBA
- Residential day limit (7 AM-7 PM)
- 60 dBA
- Prima facie threshold
- More than 5 dB above ambient at the property line (sec. 10-106)
- Remedy
- Public nuisance; injunction/abatement (sec. 10-111)
Summary
Fresno's Noise Ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter 10, Article 1) sets zone- and time-based exterior sound limits. In residential districts the limit is 50 dBA from 10 PM to 7 AM, 55 dBA from 7 PM to 10 PM, and 60 dBA from 7 AM to 7 PM; any noise exceeding the ambient level at a neighbor's property line by more than 5 decibels is prima facie unlawful.
SEC. 10-105. - EXCESSIVE NOISE PROHIBITED. No person shall make, cause, or suffer or permit to be made or caused upon any premises or upon any public street, alley, or place within the city, any sound or noise which causes discomfort or annoyance to any reasonable person of normal sensitiveness residing or working in the area, unless such noise or sound is specifically authorized by or in accordance with this article. ... SEC. 10-106. - PRIMA FACIE VIOLATION. Any noise or sound exceeding the ambient noise level at the property line of any person offended thereby, or, if a condominium or apartment house, within any adjoining living unit, by more than five decibels shall be deemed to be prima facie evidence of a violation. [Residential limits per sec. 10-102(b): 50 dBA 10 pm to 7 am; 55 dBA 7 pm to 10 pm; 60 dBA 7 am to 7 pm.]
Full Breakdown
Fresno regulates noise primarily through decibel limits keyed to land-use district and time of day rather than a single 'quiet hours' window. ); Industrial districts at 70 dBA anytime. ' Measurement procedures are specified in Sections 10-103 and 10-104 (A-weighted sound level meter, 15-minute averaging). A permit allowing otherwise-prohibited noise may be issued under Section 10-110 where the public interest is served or strict enforcement would cause extreme hardship.
Violations & Fines
Violation of the Noise Ordinance is enforceable as an infraction under the City's general penalty provisions, and under Section 10-111 a violating device or activity is declared a public nuisance subject to abatement by restraining order or injunction. Infraction fines under FMC 1-304(c) run up to $100 (first), $200 (second within a year), and $500 (each additional within a year).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fresno have fixed quiet hours?
How much noise is 'too much' legally?
How is the noise measured?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fresno
How Fresno compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·California rules heatmap·Compare Fresno to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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Quiet Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fresno County handle quiet hours.