Stockton, CA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Stockton, CA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Section
- SMC § 8.20.030(B)(4)
- Prima facie quiet hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Audibility threshold
- Audible beyond 25 feet near parks
- Power tools curfew
- 9 p.m.-8 a.m., § 8.20.030(B)(7)
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $500 fine/6 months
Summary
Stockton curbs loud audio equipment and residential noise at night. Municipal Code § 8.20.030(B)(4) bars operating a radio, TV, musical instrument, or stereo system so as to disturb a neighborhood's peace, and treats equipment clearly audible beyond 25 feet on streets near public parks between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. as automatic proof of a violation.
4. It is unlawful to operate any radio, television set, musical instrument, phonograph, stereo or audio system, whether or not said noise source is inside a building or motor vehicle, so as to cause an unreasonable annoyance to others located or living nearby, or so as to disturb the peace and quiet of any neighborhood, unless an exception is granted by a special event permit. It is hereby found and declared as a matter of legislative policy that the operation of the aforesaid equipment or instruments on the public streets and rights-of-way adjacent to public parks during the hours from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., in such a manner as to be clearly audible for a distance in excess of 25 feet constitutes prima facie evidence of a violation of this section. This section shall be inapplicable to radio systems operated by FCC licensees in the regular course of business.
Full Breakdown
20, Noise Regulations. It makes it unlawful to operate any radio, television set, musical instrument, phonograph, stereo, or audio system, whether the source sits inside a building or a motor vehicle, in a way that causes unreasonable annoyance to others nearby or disturbs the peace and quiet of a neighborhood, unless a special event permit grants an exception. , in a manner clearly audible beyond 25 feet, is declared prima facie evidence of a violation, meaning officers can cite the noise without separately proving annoyance during those hours.
if it causes a noise disturbance across a residential property line, a full hour tighter on both ends than the general quiet-hours standard. 030(A) general nuisance-noise standard, which applies around the clock and weighs factors like volume, duration, and residential proximity rather than a fixed clock.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Section 8.20.030(B)(4) is a misdemeanor under Section 8.20.050, punishable by a fine up to $500.00, up to six months in jail, or both, with each night's violation charged as a separate offense. The City may also seek a restraining order or injunction to abate the noise as a public nuisance when it endangers the comfort, health, or peace of area residents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Stockton's quiet hours?
Can I run a lawnmower or power saw at night in Stockton?
What's the penalty for violating Stockton's quiet-hours rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stockton
How Stockton compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·California rules heatmap·Compare Stockton to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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Quiet Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Joaquin County handle quiet hours.