Noise ordinances › Sacramento County, CA

Sacramento County noise ordinance: quiet hours, limits and complaints

Last updated: November 4, 2026

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Quiet hours in Sacramento County

The outdoor limits step down at 10 p.m.: 55 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 50 dBA from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. (6.68.070). In an apartment, condominium, townhouse, duplex or multiple dwelling unit, a separate limit on noise from inside one unit, measured in a neighboring unit, applies only from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.; it starts at 45 dBA (6.68.080). Construction, repair, remodeling, demolition, paving and grading are exempt from the chapter unless they take place between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays, from 8 p.m. Friday through 7 a.m. Saturday, from 8 p.m. Saturday through 7 a.m. Sunday, or after 8 p.m. on a Sunday (6.68.090 e). So the exempt window is 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, with no separate Sunday ban. Work may run past 8 p.m. when an unforeseen or unavoidable condition means the work in process has to be carried through a specific phase (6.68.090 e). Maintenance of residential area property is exempt from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on any day except Saturday or Sunday, and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday or Sunday (6.68.090 h). Agricultural operations are exempt unless they take place between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. (6.68.090 f). Outside these windows the work is not banned as such: it loses the exemption and has to meet the limits. The general noise rule (6.68.150) has no fixed hours, but the time of day or night is one of the factors in judging a violation.

Decibel limits

Yes, in unincorporated Sacramento County. Readings are A-weighted at slow response, in dBA, on a meter meeting ANSI S1.4-1971 for Type 2 or giving equivalent data (6.68.050, 6.68.060). Exterior standard (6.68.070): Noise Area 1, made up of the zoning districts RE-1, RD-1, RE-2, RD-2, RE-3, RD-3, RD-4, R-1-A, RD-5, R-2, RD-10, R-2A, RD-20, R-3, R-D-30, RD-40, RM-1, RM-2, A-1-B, AR-1, A-2, AR-2, A-5 and AR-5, is held to 55 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 50 dBA from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. The allowance table runs: the standard for a cumulative 30 minutes per hour, plus 5 dBA for 15 minutes, plus 10 dBA for 5 minutes, plus 15 dBA for 1 minute, and plus 20 dBA as a level not to be exceeded at any time. That gives steps of 55, 60, 65, 70 and 75 dBA by day and 50, 55, 60, 65 and 70 dBA at night. Each limit falls by 5 dBA for impulsive or simple tone noises and for noises consisting of speech or music, so music at night starts at 45 dBA. If the ambient level is above one of the first four categories, that limit rises in 5 dBA steps to take in the ambient; if it is above the fifth, the maximum ambient level becomes the limit. Exterior readings are taken at least one foot inside the property line of the affected residential property, where feasible with the microphone 3 to 5 feet above ground and at least 4 feet from walls or similar reflecting surfaces (6.68.060). Interior standard between units, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. only (6.68.080): 45 dBA for more than 5 cumulative minutes in any hour, 50 dBA for more than 1 minute, and 55 dBA for any period, with the same 5 dBA steps for a loud ambient; windows stay in their normal seasonal configuration and the meter sits at least 4 feet from the wall, ceiling or floor nearest the affected occupied area (6.68.060). Fixed machinery, fans and air conditioning (6.68.120): equipment installed after July 1, 1976 may not exceed 60 dBA at any point at least one foot inside the affected residential property line, 55 dBA in the center of a neighboring patio, or 55 dBA outside the neighboring living area window nearest the equipment; equipment installed five years after July 1, 1976 has a 55 dBA maximum at that property-line point; equipment installed by July 1, 1976 has a 65 dBA maximum there. Schools, hospitals and churches in use get the 6.68.070 standards, and in a disputed case interfering noise 10 dBA or more above the ambient at the building is deemed excessive and unlawful (6.68.110). Motorcycles and recreational off-road vehicles are held to the exterior standards (6.68.130). Truck-mounted garbage loading equipment is limited to 80 dBA, or 75 dBA for equipment bought or leased 42 months or more after July 1, 1976, at 50 feet in an open area (6.68.140). Noise Area 1 is the only area the table lists, and 6.68.180 d only asked the health officer to recommend standards for nonresidentially zoned areas, so the chapter shows no decibel table for commercial or industrial zones. The County's noise page says "maximum noise levels shall not exceed 55 decibels (dBA)" by day and 50 dBA at night. That is a simplification: in the code those are the 30-minute standards, with the steps above, and the code controls. Separately, 6.68.150 sets no number: it bans willfully making loud, unnecessary or unusual noise that disturbs the peace and quiet of a neighborhood or annoys a reasonable person of normal sensitiveness living in the area, weighing the sound level, the ambient, closeness to sleeping facilities, zoning, density, time, duration, content and whether the activity is commercial, among other things.

What the ordinance actually says

§ 6.68.050 b: "County" "means the unincorporated area of the County of Sacramento."

§ 6.68.070 b: "It is unlawful for any person at any location within the County to create any noise which causes the noise levels on an affected property, when measured in the designated noise area, to exceed for the duration of time set forth following, the specified exterior noise standards in any one hour by:"

§ 6.68.070 c: "Each of the noise limits specified in subdivision (b) of this section shall be reduced by five dBA for impulsive or simple tone noises, or for noises consisting of speech or music."

§ 6.68.080 a: "In any apartment, condominium, townhouse, duplex or multiple dwelling unit it is unlawful for any person to create any noise from inside his unit that causes the noise level when measured in a neighboring unit during the periods ten p.m. to seven a.m. to exceed:"

§ 6.68.090 e: "Noise sources associated with construction, repair, remodeling, demolition, paving or grading of any real property, provided said activities do not take place between the hours of eight p.m. and six a.m. on weekdays and Friday commencing at eight p.m. through and including seven a.m. on Saturday; Saturdays commencing at eight p.m. through and including seven a.m. on the next following Sunday and on each Sunday after the hour of eight p.m."

§ 6.68.150: "Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter and in addition thereto, it is unlawful for any person to wilfully make or continue or cause to be made or continued any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise which disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood or which causes discomfort or annoyance to any reasonable person of normal sensitiveness residing in the area."

§ 6.68.230: "If corrective action is not taken within such specified time or any extension thereof approved by the County Health Officer, upon conviction, the violation shall constitute an infraction."

§ 6.60.020 a: "Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1.01.190, a violation of any of the provisions of Title 6 or State law, or failure to comply with any of the regulatory requirements of Title 6, is an infraction subject to the procedures described in Section 19(c) and 19(d) of the California Penal Code."

§ 6.60.020 c: "Every violation of Title 6 is punishable by:" ... "A fine not exceeding $250 for a first violation;" ... "A fine not exceeding $500 for a second violation of the same ordinance provisions within one year;" ... "A fine not exceeding $1,500 for each additional violation of the same ordinance provision within one year."

§ 8.08.050: "No owner of any animal, wild or domestic, shall permit or suffer the animal to do any of the following:" ... "Make loud or disturbing noises without provocation, including, but not limited to, chronic howling, yowling, barking, whining, or other utterances."

§ 16.18.1407 F: "The making or continuing, or causing to be made and continued, of any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise which disturbs the peace and quiet of the neighborhood or which causes discomfort or annoyance to any reasonable person of normal sensitiveness residing in the area."

Quoted verbatim from the official text (Sacramento County Code Chapter 6.68 (Noise Control), with Chapters 8.08, 9.36 and 16.18. Sacramento County Code on eCode360, "Includes legislation through Ord. No. SCC 1782 adopted August 25, 2026.": Title 6 "Health and Sanitation", Chapter 6.68 "Noise Control", §§ 6.68.010 to 6.68.240 (SCC 254 § 1, 1976; § 6.68.070 also SCC 490 § 2, 1981; § 6.68.145 added by SCC 490 § 1, 1981; § 6.68.210 also SCC 273 § 1, 1976, SCC 351 § 1, 1978 and SCC 360 § 1, 1978; § 6.68.230 also SCC 576 § 6, 1983), and Chapter 6.60 (Enforcement), § 6.60.020 (SCC 576 § 4, 1983; SCC 1322 § 7, 2006; SCC 1333 § 28, 2006); Title 1 (General Provisions), § 1.01.190 (SCC 1637 § 1, 2019); Title 8, §§ 8.08.050 and 8.08.100 (animals); Title 9, § 9.36.072 (sound amplification in parks); Title 16, Chapter 16.18 "Nuisance Code", §§ 16.18.205, 16.18.207 and 16.18.401 K and Article XIV "Neighborhood Nuisance Code", §§ 16.18.1401 to 16.18.1426 (SCC 1102 § 1, 1998; SCC 1578, 2015). California Vehicle Code § 22651.5, read on leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Chapter 6.68 defines "County" as the unincorporated area of the County of Sacramento; cities in the county have their own rules. Text read 2026-11-04.). Verified against the live code on 2026-11-04. Ordinances get amended — before acting on a specific provision, check the linked official code. This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice.

How to file a noise complaint in Sacramento County

In unincorporated Sacramento County, call the Sacramento Sheriff's Department non-emergency dispatch at (916) 874-5115 for any noise outside daytime hours or not related to a business, and call 911 for an emergency. The County's noise page says "To report a noise issue outside of daytime hours or not related to a business, please contact Sacramento Sheriff's Department Non-Emergency Dispatch at (916) 874-5115." The Sheriff's TDD non-emergency line is 916-874-7128. For daytime noise from a commercial or industrial operation, the same page says to call 311. County pages disagree on 311's hours: the noise page gives Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the Code Enforcement page gives 3-1-1 or 916-875-4311 Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding County holidays. Do not count on either set of hours. The Environmental Management Department investigates "complaints of ongoing and aggravated noise which require monitoring with sound level meters or which are of a habitual or mechanical nature such as pool pumps, mechanical equipment, and HVAC systems at commercial enterprises or residential sites." It answers with a letter to the owner or occupant of the property suspected to be the source, and if the noise goes on, you file another complaint. Under 6.68.230, on a complaint from any person the Sheriff, the County Health Officer or their representatives may investigate and, if they believe the chapter was violated, serve a written notice stating the dBA readings, time and place, which may order a fix by a set time. If the fix is not made, a conviction makes the violation an infraction, and each day is a separate offense. Chapter 6.68 states no dollar amount, but 6.60.020 sets the fine for every violation of Title 6, which includes this chapter: up to $250 for a first violation, up to $500 for a second violation of the same provision within one year, and up to $1,500 for each further violation of it within one year. That section applies in place of the County's general misdemeanor penalty in 1.01.190 (up to $1,000, six months in jail, or both). Barking dogs go to Animal Care: report online or call 311 (916-875-4311; Citrus Heights residents 916-725-7387). Animal Care says it replies in 3 to 5 business days, and the County's 311 answer says the dog owner is notified by mail and advises keeping a written log of times and duration. Inside a city, the city handles noise: the County's page says incorporated cities "have separate authority to address nuisance noise" and points residents of Sacramento, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Folsom, Galt and Isleton to their own police or city offices. For the City of Sacramento use the Sacramento page. Sources: https://ecode360.com/44028995 (Chapter 6.60), https://emd.saccounty.gov/us/en/environmental-health/noise-control-program.html, https://www.sacsheriff.com/pages/contacts.php, https://development.saccounty.gov/us/en/code-enforcement/report-a-violation.html, https://animalcare.saccounty.gov/us/en/animal-issues/barking-dogs.html and https://311.saccounty.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/20/~/what-do-i-do-if-my-neighbors-dog-wont-stop-barking.

Step by step, with what to log and what to expect after you file: how to file a noise complaint in Sacramento County. For the general playbook — documenting the problem, talking to a landlord or HOA, when 311 beats 911 — see the noise complaints guide.

Worth knowing

(1) Jurisdiction: Chapter 6.68 defines "County" as the unincorporated area, so its rules stop at the city line. The City of Sacramento is a separate jurisdiction with its own noise chapter (see the Sacramento page). The County's noise page also names Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Folsom, Galt and Isleton; it does not name Citrus Heights, which the County's 311 page treats as a city with its own barking dog number. (2) Expect a notice first: under 6.68.230 officers may serve a written notice, which may order a fix by a set time, and the violation becomes an infraction on conviction if the fix is not made. The section does not say they must, and 6.60.020 separately calls any Title 6 violation an infraction, so the code does not clearly promise a warning. Only the radio rule (6.68.145) says a warning must come first. (3) Code and page use different names: the code vests the chapter in the County Health Officer (6.68.160), while the County's page says the Environmental Management Department does this work. (4) Exempt from the chapter (6.68.090): school bands and school athletic and entertainment events; outdoor gatherings, dances, shows and sporting or entertainment events under a County license or permit; activities on parks, public playgrounds and school grounds owned and operated by a public entity or private school; emergency work and devices; equipment that protects crops in bad weather or mobile sources needed for pest control; airport noise to the extent federal and state law preempt local control; noise from aircraft engines or weapons systems owned, operated or under the jurisdiction of the United States; other activity preempted by state or federal law; and the maintenance and operation of aircraft or airports owned or operated by the United States. Construction, maintenance and agriculture are exempt only in the hours shown above. (5) The between-units rule covers noise from inside a unit at night only, so daytime noise through a wall has no interior number and falls to the general rule (6.68.150). (6) Radios on public property: a radio, tape player, tape recorder, record player or television played outdoors on publicly owned property is unlawful if a person of normal hearing can hear it 100 feet away; it is an infraction with its own lower fines, up to $50, then $100, then $250 for further violations within a year, and the person must first get verbal or written notice and a chance to correct it (6.68.145). In County parks, sound amplification above the Chapter 6.68 levels needs a permit from the Director (9.36.072). (7) The property owner can be reached. The Nuisance Code lists any condition in violation of Chapter 6.68 as a public nuisance (16.18.401 K), and its own fines run up to $100, $200 and $500 for a first, second and third citation, with a misdemeanor after more than three convictions on the same property (16.18.205), or administrative penalties of $100, $200 and $500 for codes not otherwise specified (16.18.207). The pages read do not say whether the County uses this route for noise. (8) Repeat problem houses: the Neighborhood Nuisance Code makes repeated loud, unnecessary or unusual noise on premises a public nuisance, with Chapter 6.68 as the yardstick (16.18.1407 F). The Sheriff or the Director of Planning and Community Development must first write to the owner, the owner has 15 days to respond, no citation issues while the owner makes good faith efforts within 30 days, the citation allows 60 calendar days to abate, and an administrative penalty of up to $5,000 can follow and become a lien on the property (16.18.1408, 16.18.1409, 16.18.1410). Tenants may contest the allegations at an informal meeting with the Executive Director of the Human Rights/Fair Housing Commission. (9) Variances and permits: the health officer may grant special condition permits of up to three days, renewable (6.68.190). A variance application costs $75 and goes to a nine-member joint City-County Hearing Board, shared with the City of Sacramento, with appeal to the Board of Supervisors within 10 days (6.68.200 to 6.68.220). (10) Animals: an owner may not let an animal make loud or disturbing noises without provocation, including chronic barking; the rule does not apply to noises from legally operated veterinary hospitals, humane societies, animal shelters, farm or agricultural facilities, or areas where keeping farm animals or fowl is permitted (8.08.050). A first violation is an infraction with fines up to $50, then $100, then $250 within a year; a second within 30 calendar days is a misdemeanor, up to $500, six months in jail, or both; the Director may assess an administrative penalty instead (8.08.100). (11) Car alarms: the County's noise page has a topic on loud vehicle alarms, and under California Vehicle Code § 22651.5, on any person's complaint, a peace officer may remove a vehicle parked in a residence or business district if its alarm or horn keeps sounding, the owner cannot be found within 20 minutes of the officer's arrival, and it has not been silenced. (12) The County's General Plan Noise Element sets its own standards for new development. Those are planning rules for projects, separate from the Chapter 6.68 limits used for complaints.

Document it before you report it

Some of Sacramento County's limits are measured numbers, so a reading can help, and a dated log counts either way. Take a quick reading with the free online decibel meter — it runs in your browser and records nothing — and see the nearest city we map, on the Sacramento noise map. For time-stamped measurement history you can show a landlord or code officer, the app keeps a log.