Fresno County, CA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Fresno County, CA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Weekday maintenance window
- 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Weekend maintenance window
- 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Outside window
- must meet § 8.40.040 decibel table
- Nighttime decibel floor
- as low as 45 dBA
- Governing section
- County Code § 8.40.060(D)
Summary
Fresno County exempts routine residential maintenance noise, mowers, blowers, and similar equipment, from its noise standards only between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. weekends; run that equipment outside those hours and it must meet the chapter's tighter nighttime decibel caps under County Code § 8.40.060(D).
The following activities shall be exempted from the provisions of this chapter:
A.Activities conducted in public parks, public playgrounds, and public or private school grounds, including, but not limited to, school athletic and school entertainment events;B.Any mechanical device, apparatus or equipment used, related to or connected with emergency activities or emergency work;C.Noise sources associated with construction, provided such activities do not take place before six a.m. or after nine p.m. on any day except Saturday or Sunday, or before seven a.m. or after five p.m. on Saturday or Sunday;D.Noise sources associated with the maintenance of residential property provided such activities take place between the hours of six a.m. and nine p.m. on any day except Saturday or Sunday, or between the hours of seven a.m. and nine p.m. on Saturday or Sunday;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
050. ) run as low as 45 dBA for noise lasting up to 30 minutes an hour and never exceed 65 dBA even continuously. ), agricultural activity on agricultural property under subsection E, and utility maintenance under subsection G, so different noise sources get different curfews within the same chapter. Enforcement Officers, defined as the Health Officer, County Administrator, Sheriff, or a code enforcement officer, can act on a complaint if maintenance noise runs before or after the permitted hours and exceeds the applicable decibel ceiling. Ordinance No. 24-021, adopted December 17, 2024, is the current codification of this exemption schedule.
Violations & Fines
Running exempt residential maintenance equipment outside the permitted hours strips the § 8.40.060(D) exemption; if the resulting noise then exceeds the § 8.40.040 table it is a misdemeanor under § 8.40.120(B), punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, or an administrative citation of $250 to $1,000 under § 8.40.120(C).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mow my lawn early in the morning in unincorporated Fresno County?
Is the residential maintenance curfew the same as the construction noise hours?
What happens if I run a leaf blower at 10 p.m.?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fresno County
How Fresno County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·California rules heatmap·Compare Fresno County to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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