Sacramento County, CA Public Conduct: Loud Party Ordinance (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- minor drinking at a gathering host controls
- Liability
- full law-enforcement response costs
- Enforced by
- Sacramento County Sheriff
- Payment window
- 30 days from mailed notice
- Penalty type
- infraction or civil fine
Summary
Anyone who knowingly hosts a loud or unruly gathering where a minor drinks alcohol is personally liable for the full law enforcement response cost, on top of an infraction citation.
It is unlawful for any responsible person to knowingly host, permit or allow a gathering on private property where at least one minor consumes one or more alcoholic beverages...whenever the person having control of the private property either knows, or reasonably should have known, that a minor has consumed an alcoholic beverage...all responsible persons and/or social host(s) shall be jointly and severally liable for the County of Sacramento's response costs incurred pursuant to this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4941150; v18 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
Sacramento County Code Chapter 6.140 makes it unlawful for a responsible person, owner, tenant, or organizer, to knowingly host, permit, or allow a gathering where a minor consumes alcohol on property they control, unless they take reasonable steps like checking ID and controlling access. Once deputies respond, every responsible person and social host is jointly and severally liable for the Sheriff's full response costs, billed by mail with a 30-day payment window and an appeal process.
Violations & Fines
A violation is an infraction under Government Code § 25132, or the Sheriff may instead assess an administrative civil penalty under Government Code § 53069.4; each incident is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be billed for a police response to a party at my house?
Does this apply if I call the police myself to break up the party?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento County to another location·View the California public conduct overview
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