Santa Maria, CA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Santa Maria, CA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Code chapter
- Chapter 5-5 (Noise Regulations)
- Violation thresholds (per hour)
- Any exceedance 30 min cumulative; +5 dB(A) for 15 min; +10 dB(A) for 5 min
- Residential ambient base (typical)
- 55 dB(A) day / 45 dB(A) night
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under Section 5-5.14
- Appeal window
- 10 working days to City Manager
Summary
Santa Maria Municipal Code Chapter 5-5 sets ambient base noise levels that drop at night in residential zones, with a violation found when the level exceeds the standard for set durations within an hour.
(a) A violation shall be determined to exist when the noise level exceeds the ambient noise level or the ambient base noise level, whichever is higher, as follows: (1) By any amount 30 minutes for any given hour, measured cumulatively; (2) By five dB(A), 15 minutes for any given hour; (3) By 10 dB(A), five minutes for any given hour; (4) By 20 dB(A) at any time.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4818069; v9 updated 2026-04-07).
Full Breakdown
Santa Maria does not use a single 'quiet hours' clock; instead, Chapter 5-5 (Noise Regulations) of the Santa Maria Municipal Code sets ambient base noise levels in dB(A) that vary by land-use category and by time of day, with nighttime limits roughly 10 dB lower than daytime in residential zones. Under Section 5-5.04 a violation exists when the noise level exceeds the higher of the ambient noise level or the ambient base noise level by any amount for thirty (30) cumulative minutes in any hour, by 5 dB(A) for fifteen (15) minutes in any hour, or by 10 dB(A) for five (5) minutes in any hour. Section 5-5.01 establishes the City policy 'to prohibit unnecessary, excessive and annoying noises from all sources subject to its police power.' Section 5-5.06 separately addresses 'unmeasurable nuisance noise' that is offensive or interferes with the reasonable quiet enjoyment of property even when not amenable to meter measurement.
Violations & Fines
Violation of Chapter 5-5 is a misdemeanor under Section 5-5.14 punishable in accordance with Chapter 1-6, and noise sources may also be summarily abated through a restraining order or injunction under Section 5-5.13. A person aggrieved by action of the Noise Control Officer may appeal in writing to the City Manager within 10 working days under Section 5-5.12.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Santa Maria have specific 'quiet hours'?
Who enforces Chapter 5-5?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Maria
How Santa Maria compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Maria to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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