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.
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.
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.
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.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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