Calaveras County, CA Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 9.02.050.A
- Nighttime rule (10pm-7am)
- Not audible inside a dwelling
- Daytime rule
- Not audible beyond 50 feet
- Applies to
- Vessels and motor vehicles, affixed or portable
- Repeat offense
- Infraction 1st/2nd, misdemeanor 3rd+
Summary
Calaveras County's Chapter 9.02 bars vessel or motor vehicle sound systems, whether built-in or portable, from being plainly audible inside an inhabited dwelling between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., and from carrying beyond fifty feet from the vehicle at any other time, under § 9.02.050.A.
A.Vessel or Motor Vehicle Sound Systems. No person shall operate a vessel or motor vehicle sound system, whether affixed or not, between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., such that the sound system is plainly audible inside any inhabited dwelling. No person shall operate a vessel or motor vehicle sound system, whether affixed or not, at any other time such that the sound system is plainly audible at a distance greater than fifty feet from the vessel or vehicle.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
A of the Calaveras County Code regulates vessel and motor vehicle sound systems separately from the chapter's general decibel table. It sets two distinct standards depending on the time of day. , no person may operate a vessel or motor vehicle sound system, whether affixed to the vehicle or not, such that it is plainly audible inside any inhabited dwelling. At any other time, the standard shifts to a distance test: the sound system cannot be plainly audible at a distance greater than fifty feet from the vessel or vehicle.
P as amplified sound a person of normal hearing faculties can clearly hear such that a reasonable person would believe it unreasonably disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others; the definition does not require the listener to make out specific words of speech or song lyrics. 02's reach entirely. Enforcement runs through the county sheriff as Noise Control Officer countywide in the unincorporated area; Angels Camp enforces its own municipal code within city limits.
Violations & Fines
A vehicle or vessel sound system violation is enforced under § 9.02.070: a first or second conviction inside a two-year window is an infraction, and a third conviction within twenty-four months of a prior one is a misdemeanor. Fines follow Government Code § 25132, and the county may recover its administrative enforcement costs from the responsible party under § 9.02.090 after a notice-and-hearing process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can my car stereo be at night in Calaveras County?
What's the daytime rule for vehicle sound systems?
Does this rule cover boats as well as cars?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Calaveras County
California rules heatmap·Compare Calaveras County to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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