Quiet hours in Riverside County, CA — also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time — define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Riverside County Ordinance No. 847 establishes nighttime quiet hours in unincorporated areas, with sound limits lowered from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily.
Riverside County Ordinance No. 847 (the County Noise Ordinance) sets exterior and interior sound limits for unincorporated areas that drop during nighttime hours, generally 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Exterior noise received at residential property lines is typically capped around 45 dBA at night versus 55 dBA during the day, with tighter limits in rural residential and mountain zones. Plainly audible amplified sound, loud parties, barking dogs, and power equipment during quiet hours may trigger enforcement by the Sheriff's Department, Code Enforcement, or Animal Services. Commercial and industrial activities near homes must also demonstrate they do not exceed nighttime limits at the nearest residential property line. Violations can result in warnings, administrative citations, and misdemeanor charges for repeat offenders.
First-offense administrative citations typically start around $100, escalating to $200 and $500 for repeats within a year; continuing nuisance noise can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor.
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See how Riverside County's quiet hours rules stack up against other locations.
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