Woodland, CA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Woodland, CA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Woodland Municipal Code § 9.28.090
- General noise curfew
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Construction hours
- 7 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. Sundays
- Amplifier curfew
- 10:30 p.m. to 10:00 a.m.
- Amplifier permit
- Required from Chief of Police
- Default penalty
- Misdemeanor, § 1.08.070
Summary
Woodland Municipal Code Section 9.28.090 bans loud, unnecessary or unusual noise that disturbs others anywhere in the City, and sets specific curfews for construction, power tools, pile drivers and sound amplifiers, most running from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Violators face the code's general misdemeanor penalty under Section 1.08.070.
It is unlawful for any person to make, continue or cause to be made or continued, any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise or any noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others, within the limits of the City. ... Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling, singing or blowing of horns on the public streets, particularly between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or any time or place so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of persons in any office, or in any dwelling, hotel, apartment or other type of residence, or of any persons in the vicinity.
Full Breakdown
Section 9.28.090(A) makes it unlawful to make or continue any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise that annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others anywhere in Woodland. Subsection B lists specific examples automatically "declared to be loud, disturbing and unnecessary," including unnecessary motor noise and backfiring, horn use except as a danger warning, and yelling, shouting or singing on public streets particularly between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Building construction, demolition, alteration or excavation is confined to 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Monday through Saturday and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, except under a building inspector's emergency permit lasting up to three days at a time. Pile drivers, steam shovels, pneumatic hammers and similar heavy equipment, along with power saws, planers and suction sweepers, are barred between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. wherever their use disturbs nearby residents. Sound amplifiers and loudspeakers broadcast to a public thoroughfare require a Chief of Police permit, and no amplifier, loudspeaker, radio, television or musical instrument may run between 10:30 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. the next day, a stricter overnight window than the general 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. curfew. An exception excludes emergency operation of backup generators or well-drilling for City of Woodland facilities from being treated as a violation.
Violations & Fines
There is no separate penalty section within Chapter 9.28 for noise, so a violation of Section 9.28.090 is enforced under the code's general penalty, Section 1.08.070, as a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in County Jail, a fine of up to $1,000.00, or both, unless the City Attorney elects to prosecute it as an infraction instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours are quiet hours in Woodland?
Can I run construction equipment early in the morning in Woodland?
Do I need a permit to use a loudspeaker in Woodland?
Are backup generators exempt from Woodland's noise rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Woodland
How Woodland compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·California rules heatmap·Compare Woodland to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Quiet Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Yolo County handle quiet hours.