Hanford, CA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

Chapter 9.10 of the Hanford Municipal Code is the city's primary noise ordinance, adopted to protect the health, safety, welfare, and peace and quiet of Hanford residents. The restrictions are content-neutral: they apply to the volume, duration, location, and timing of sound, not the message. Section 9.10 prohibits yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling, or singing in or in proximity to residential or noise-sensitive areas, or in any public place, between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM. Outside those hours the same conduct can still violate the ordinance if it is so loud, prolonged, unnatural, or unusual in time or place as to disturb reasonable persons of ordinary sensitivities. Permitted public events, parades, and gatherings authorized by the city are exempt; lawful emergency-vehicle sirens, whistles, and bells are also exempt. The ordinance covers motor-vehicle noise off the traffic way and does not exempt compression-release engine brakes ('jake brakes') that create otherwise-prohibited noise. Complaints are handled by the Hanford Police Department.