Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in San Luis Obispo County

San Luis Obispo County, CA Public Conduct: Loud Party Ordinance (2026)

Significant Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Audibility threshold: 100 feet from property line
Owner liability window: 1 year after notice
Max penalty: $500 fine or 6 months jail

Summary

San Luis Obispo County bans loud, amplified noise from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and puts hosts on notice: a repeat violation makes the property owner liable for a year.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of San Luis Obispo County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

It shall be unlawful ... to make ... any loud and unreasonable noise ... between the hours of ten p.m. ... and seven a.m. ... a loud and unreasonable sound shall include any sound ... which is clearly discernable at a distance of one hundred feet from the property line of the property upon which it is broadcast. ... The property owner shall thereafter be severally liable for any further violations of this chapter for a period of one year after receiving the notice, regardless of whether the property owner is the host of any incident in which the violation occurs.

View official code

Full Breakdown

County Code Chapter 7.18 makes it unlawful to broadcast loud music, amplified sound, or yelling/shouting from a residence between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. if it's clearly discernible 100 feet past the property line. After a first violation, the sheriff's office or code enforcement mails the property owner a warning notice. Any further violation within the following year makes the owner severally liable for penalties, even if they weren't hosting or present when it happened. Permitted outdoor events, religious bells, and commercial ag operations are exempted.

Violations & Fines

Misdemeanor under Chapter 1.04, up to a $500 fine and/or 6 months in county jail; repeat violations after notice make the property owner liable too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the county have to prove I was hosting the party?

No. Once you've received a notice after a first violation, you're liable for any further violation at your property for a year regardless of who hosted it.

How loud does noise have to be to violate the ordinance?

If amplified music, yelling, or similar noise from your property is clearly discernible 100 feet past your property line between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., it violates Chapter 7.18.

Sources & Official References

[1]San Luis Obispo County Code, Chapter 7.18 (via Municode)

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