Butte County, CA Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Covered vehicles
- Recreational off-road vehicles
- Spark arrestor
- USDA-approved or manufacturer-certified
- Nighttime exterior limit
- 45 dBA urban, 40 non-urban
- Daytime private-use allowance
- 65 dBA at property line, 9am-sunset
- Enforcement trigger
- Complaint-based investigation
- Violation class
- Infraction under Sec. 41-2
Summary
Butte County bans operating a recreational off-road vehicle so its noise exceeds the county's interior or exterior noise-sensitive-area standards, and requires every off-road vehicle to carry a USDA Forest Service-approved or manufacturer-certified spark arrestor under Code of Ordinances Sec. 41A-11.
It is unlawful for any person to operate any recreational off-road vehicle within the County in such a manner that the noise level exceeds the noise standards specified above at either interior or exterior spaces of noise sensitive areas, or as specified under Exemptions above. All vehicles must have a USDA Forest Service approved, or manufacturer certified, spark arrestor.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 61).
Full Breakdown
Section 41A-11, titled "Off-road vehicles," makes it unlawful to operate any recreational off-road vehicle in the county in a manner that causes the noise level to exceed the standards set in Sec. 41A-7 (exterior) and Sec. 41A-8 (interior) at noise-sensitive areas, unless the operation falls under the exemptions listed in Sec. 41A-9. ) hourly average of 45 dBA in urban areas and 40 dBA in non-urban areas, dropping to a daytime ceiling of 55 dBA urban and 50 dBA non-urban, with the numeric ceiling reduced by 5 dBA for recurring impulsive noise or tones.
Off-road vehicles are defined in the chapter's definitions section as "vehicles operated in areas other than public roadways or right-of-way," so this section reaches dirt bikes, ATVs and similar equipment run off-street rather than street-legal cars or trucks. Every off-road vehicle operated in the county must be fitted with a spark arrestor that is either approved by the USDA Forest Service or certified by the manufacturer, a requirement tied to wildfire risk in Butte County's foothill terrain as much as to noise control. Separately, Sec.
to sunset) if the noise does not exceed an hourly average of 65 dBA measured at the property line over any 30-minute period, giving landowners a daytime allowance the nighttime standards do not.
Violations & Fines
Violations are investigated on complaint by the Department of Development Services under Sec. 41A-18; a written notice specifying the dBA readings and violated provision issues first, and failure to correct in the stated time moves the case into Chapter 41 code enforcement, with conviction charged as an infraction under Sec. 41-2.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do off-road vehicles in Butte County need spark arrestors?
Can I ride an ATV on my property at night in unincorporated Butte County?
Is there a daytime exception for off-road vehicle noise?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Butte County
California rules heatmap·Compare Butte County 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.