Solano County, CA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Solano 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
- Overnight Standard
- 65 dBA at property line
- Restricted Hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- County Code
- Solano County Code Sec. 21-10
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor; up to 6 mo. / $1,000 (Sec. 1-21)
- State Backstop
- Cal. Penal Code Sec. 415
- Enforcement
- Solano County Sheriff
Summary
Unincorporated Solano County sets nighttime quiet hours through Solano County Code Sec. 21-10 (Disturbing the Peace). Any non-agricultural noise exceeding 65 dBA at the property line after 10:00 p.m. or before 6:00 a.m. is, by definition, a disturbance of the peace and a misdemeanor. California Penal Code Sec. 415 provides statewide backup authority.
Public hearing on a proposed ordinance to add Chapter 28.1 (Noise Regulations) to the Solano County Code to regulate noise in the unincorporated area of Solano County... [withdrawn at staff request to allow further public outreach].
Full Breakdown
Solano County Code Sec. 21-10 prohibits any person from maliciously and willfully disturbing the peace and quiet of any neighborhood or person by loud or unusual noise. that exceeds sixty-five (65) dBA at the property line (Ord. No. 160; Ord. No. 1691; Ord. No. 1830). This is the county's clearest quiet-hours standard and applies throughout the unincorporated area, including communities such as Elmira, Allendale, English Hills, and Green Valley. Outside those hours, the broader 'disturbing the peace' test still applies to tumultuous or offensive conduct.
California Penal Code Sec. 415 separately makes it a misdemeanor to maliciously and willfully disturb another person by loud and unreasonable noise. Active disturbances in unincorporated areas are handled by the Solano County Sheriff; ongoing noise nuisances are abated by Resource Management Code Compliance under Chapter 10. Incorporated cities (Vallejo, Fairfield, Vacaville, Suisun City, Benicia, Dixon, Rio Vista) enforce their own municipal noise codes.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Sec. 21-10 is a misdemeanor. Under the general penalty in Sec. 1-21, an offense with no specific penalty is punishable by up to six (6) months in county jail and/or a fine up to $1,000, with each day a separate offense. The Sheriff may also cite under California Penal Code Sec. 415. Continuing noise nuisances can be abated administratively under Chapter 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the quiet hours in unincorporated Solano County?
Who do I call about late-night noise in unincorporated Solano County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Solano County
How Solano County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·California rules heatmap·Compare Solano County to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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