San Diego County, CA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in San Diego County, CA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Daytime limit (Zone 1)
- 50 dBA, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Nighttime limit (Zone 1)
- 45 dBA, 10 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Measured at
- property line, one-hour average
- Primary enforcer
- Sheriff's Department
- Scope
- unincorporated county only
Summary
Unincorporated San Diego County caps nighttime noise at 45 dBA (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.) in its lowest-density residential zones, down from the 50 dBA daytime limit, measured one-hour average at the property line under County Code Section 36.404.
Except as provided in section 36.409 of this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person to cause or allow the creation of any noise, which exceeds the one-hour average sound level limits in Table 36.404... (1) RS, RD, RR, RMH, A70, A72, S80, S81, S90, S92, RV, and RU with a General Plan Land Use Designation density of less than 10.9 dwelling units per acre... 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 50 ... 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. 45
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-141: Administrative: Current through Ord. No. 11007 (N.S.), effective 7-10-26 | Regulatory: Current through Ord. No. 11008 (N.S.), effective 7-24-26).
Full Breakdown
The County Code sets a one-hour average sound level limit, measured at the property line, that is lower at night than during the day throughout unincorporated San Diego County. In the county's lowest-density residential zones (RS, RD, RR, RMH and similar), the daytime limit of 50 dBA (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) drops to 45 dBA overnight (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.); higher-density residential and commercial zones carry higher numeric caps under the same table, and heavy-industrial zones are exempt from the day/night split. The Sheriff has primary enforcement responsibility, with the County's noise control officer assisting on sound measurements.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the zone's decibel cap violates the chapter; the noise control officer can order violators to stop, and deputies may arrest without a warrant for a misdemeanor violation witnessed in person under Section 36.418.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do these quiet hours apply inside city limits?
Does the nighttime limit apply everywhere in the unincorporated area?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego County
How San Diego County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego County to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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