San Mateo County, CA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Ordinance, it shall be unlawful for any Person to willfully or negligently make or continue, or cause to be made or continued any unreasonably loud, unnecessary, or unusual noise which disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood or which causes any discomfort or annoyance to any Person of normal sensitivity residing in the area. The factors which shall be considered in determining whether a violation of the provisions of this section exist include the following:

a)The sound level of the objectionable noise.b)The sound level of the background noise.c)The proximity of the noise to residential sleeping or hospital facilities.d)The nature and zoning of the area from which the noise emanates and upon which the noise impacts.e)The number of Persons affected by the noise sources.f)The time of day or night the noise occurs.g)The duration of the noise and its tonal, informational, or musical content.h)Whether the noise is continuous, recurrent, or intermittent.i)Whether the noise is produced by a commercial or non-commercial activity. (Prior code § 4955; Ord. 2803, 10/19/82)