Orange, CA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Orange, CA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily
- Audibility threshold
- 100 ft stationary, 150 ft non-stationary
- Covers parked vehicles
- Yes, car stereos included
- Enforcing agency
- Police Chief or Community Development Director
- Maximum penalty
- $1,000 fine and/or 6 months jail
- Related law
- Penal Code § 415; OMC Ch. 9.39
Summary
Orange Municipal Code Section 8.24.100 bars playing a radio, TV, power tool, amplifier or similar device between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. if it can be heard 100 feet from the property line, or 150 feet for a non-stationary source, including a car stereo left on in the street.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter and in addition thereto, it is unlawful for any person to willfully make, continue, maintain, permit or cause to be made, continued, maintained, or permitted, any loud, unnecessary and unusual noise which disturbs the peace or quiet of any residential property or which causes discomfort or annoyance to any reasonable person of normal sensitivity residing in the area. It shall be a prima facie violation of this section if any power tool, radio, receiving set, television, music amplifier, tape player, record player, compact disc player, musical instrument or similar device is played, used or permitted to be played or used between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. when audible from a distance of 100 feet from the property line of the noise source or from a distance of 150 feet from any non-stationary noise source. For the purpose of this chapter, these prohibitions shall also be applied to stationary vehicles parked on the street or on private property.
Full Breakdown
24's decibel-limit table and instead uses an audibility test. m. A power tool, radio, television, music amplifier, tape player, record player, CD player or musical instrument played during those hours is a prima facie violation if audible 100 feet from the source's property line, or 150 feet if the source is not stationary. m. A peace officer's own observation is enough to establish the violation; testimony from any other person can also prove it. 39, so one loud gathering can trigger more than one charge.
10. If the City runs noise-monitoring tests to build a case and the reading exceeds code limits, the property owner or the noise source's operator must reimburse the City's cost of that testing.
Violations & Fines
A first offense is a misdemeanor under Section 8.24.110, punishable under the citywide penalty scale in Section 1.08.010: up to $1,000 and six months in county jail, or both, unless the City Attorney elects to prosecute it as an infraction instead. Each day the noise continues counts as a separate offense. The City may also treat the violation as a public nuisance under Section 8.24.090, placing an abatement lien on the property, or issue an administrative citation under Chapter 1.10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get cited for a car stereo audible from the street after 10 p.m. in Orange?
Does the curfew require the City to measure decibels?
What is the maximum penalty for violating Orange's noise curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Orange
How Orange compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·California rules heatmap·Compare Orange to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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Quiet Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle quiet hours.