Merced County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Noise Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Quiet hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Governing section
- Zoning Code Section 18.60.270(D)(5)
- Listing disclosure required
- Section 18.60.270(D)(11)(e)
- Outdoor amplified sound
- Banned without a use permit
- First-offense fine
- Up to $100 (Section 18.154.070)
Summary
Unincorporated Merced County fixes quiet hours for every short-term rental at 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. under Zoning Code Section 18.60.270(D)(5), which also ties all rental activity to General Plan noise standards. Every rental listing must disclose the quiet-hours rule to guests, and repeated noise complaints can trigger permit revocation on top of standard zoning fines.
Noise. All activities associated with the short-term rental shall meet the General Plan noise standards contained below. Quiet hours shall be from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4930839; v8 updated 2026-06-02).
Full Breakdown
270, which requires a discretionary Administrative Permit for every hosted or vacation rental and folds noise control into the mandatory operating standards at subsection D. , a fixed window that applies every night of the year regardless of season or event. , so the rule travels with the booking itself. Outdoor amplified sound gets a separate, tighter rule. 270(F)(3). 152 (Permit Modifications and Revocations). 070, so the Sheriff, County Code Enforcement, and the property's own designated local contact can all be pulled into a single complaint against the address.
Violations & Fines
Breaching the 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. quiet hours or the General Plan noise standard is a Zoning Code violation under Section 18.154.070(D): a first infraction draws a fine up to $100, a second within a year up to $200, and each further violation up to $500, with each day of continued noncompliance treated as a separate offense. A documented pattern of noise violations is also grounds to modify or revoke the property's Administrative Permit under Chapter 18.152.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do short-term rentals in unincorporated Merced County have set quiet hours?
Can a Merced County short-term rental host play outdoor music during the day?
What happens if neighbors keep complaining about noise from a Merced County rental?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Merced County
California rules heatmap·Compare Merced County to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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