Quiet hours in San Mateo County, CA — also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time — define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
In unincorporated San Mateo County, Noise Control Chapter 4.88 sets nighttime hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. with stricter exterior dBA limits than the 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daytime period, measured at residences, schools, hospitals, churches and libraries.
Unincorporated San Mateo County (areas such as North Fair Oaks, Emerald Hills, Ladera, El Granada, Montara, Moss Beach, La Honda and Pescadero) is governed by County Code Title 4, Chapter 4.88 (Noise Control), not by any city code. Section 4.88.330 (Exterior Noise Standards) makes it unlawful to create noise that causes the exterior noise level at any single- or multiple-family residence, school, hospital, church or public library to exceed the limits in Table I. The standards distinguish daytime hours of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. from nighttime hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., with the nighttime limits set 5 dBA lower across the board. The limits also tighten as the cumulative duration of the noise in any one-hour period grows. Separately, Section 4.88.350 (General Noise Regulation) prohibits any unreasonably loud, unnecessary or unusual noise that disturbs the peace and quiet of a neighborhood at any hour, so a disturbance during nighttime quiet hours can be cited even where a meter reading is unavailable.
Noise complaints in the unincorporated county are handled by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office and County Code Enforcement (650) 363-4825. Violations of Chapter 4.88 are enforced through the County's general code-enforcement and abatement procedures; a public nuisance such as ongoing noise may result in an abatement order.
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