Reedley, CA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

Reedley regulates noise through RMC 5-1-18 (Ord. 723, 1989), which declares excessive noise a public nuisance. The ordinance targets sound from radios, phonographs, disc players, tape decks, stereos, televisions, and other mechanical, electrical, or electronic amplification devices that annoy, disturb, injure, or endanger the comfort, repose, quiet, health, peace, or safety of other persons. Two prima facie standards apply: (A) noise plainly audible to a person of normal hearing sensitivity at 25 feet from the source, or (E) noise exceeding the ambient sound level by more than 5 decibels measured at the property line. For common-wall construction such as condominiums and apartments, the 5-dB threshold is measured within the adjoining occupied unit. Normal hearing sensitivity is defined as a hearing threshold between 0 and 25 decibels HL averaged over 500, 1,000, and 2,000 hertz. Distance is measured from the actual source, except on private property where it is measured from the property line. Exemptions cover emergency vehicles, lawful vehicle horns, alarm systems, authorized public events, and customary bells or gongs marking time. In this Central Valley agricultural community along the Kings River, common noise issues include farm equipment during harvest season and traffic along Manning Avenue.