Quiet hours in Sonoma, CA — also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time — define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 9.56 defines daytime as 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Sun-Thu and 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Fri-Sat; nighttime is quiet hours with stricter dBA limits enforced at the receiving property line.
SMC 9.56.030 prohibits any noise of a raucous or nerve-wracking nature that disturbs the peace. SMC 9.56.040 sets general noise limits measured with a Type 1 or 2 sound level meter on A-weighting at the receiving property: in residential zones, commonly 65 dBA intermittent / 55 dBA constant during daytime hours, with lower limits at night. 'Daytime' is defined as 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; all other hours are nighttime quiet hours. Exemptions for emergency work and certain city services appear in SMC 9.56.050-070.
Violations are typically cited as infractions under SMC Title 1 general penalty provisions; if prosecuted as a misdemeanor under SMC 1.12, the maximum penalty is $1,000 and/or 6 months in jail. Sonoma PD handles noise calls — business hours (707) 996-3602; non-emergency (707) 996-3601.
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