Lake County, CA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

Lake County does not have a separate noise chapter with a fixed late-night 'quiet hour' curfew. Instead, nighttime noise is controlled two ways. First, Section 41.11 of the Zoning Code Performance Standards (Sec. 21-41) sets a maximum one-hour equivalent sound pressure level (Leq) measured at the receiving property line that drops at night: in residential, agricultural, and resource zoning districts the limit is 55 dBA from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 45 dBA from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (Table 11.1); where the receptor is a dwelling, hospital, school, library, or nursing home, the figures are 57 dBA daytime and 50 dBA nighttime (Table 11.2). Second, Chapter 13 (Lake County Uniform Abatement of Public Nuisances Code), Section 13-3.1(e)(9), declares as a nuisance 'the existence of loud or unusual noises which are not already regulated through an approved use permit... which offend the peace and quiet of persons of ordinary sensibilities.' These rules apply only in unincorporated Lake County (Clearlake Oaks, Lucerne, Nice, Upper Lake, Kelseyville, Cobb, Hidden Valley Lake, Middletown, Finley, Spring Valley, etc.), not the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake. The Sheriff handles active disturbances; Code Enforcement and Community Development handle ongoing nuisances.