El Dorado County Municipal Code Ch. 9.16 Noise

It is unlawful for any person to produce or emit any loud or raucous noise, including the human voice amplified, or the sounds of musical instruments, gunshots, explosions or other device to the extent that it carries onto private property or is heard by others using the highway within the unincorporated territory of the County. Any person convicted of violation of this section shall be punished according to the general penalties described in Chapter 1.24.

(Prior Code, § 7541; Code 1997, § 9.16.010; Ord. No. 3165, § 8, 1981)

The provisions of Section 9.16.010 shall not prohibit nor apply to:

A. Any peace officer while carrying out his or her duties as a peace officer;

B. Persons engaging in an organized public celebration on public holidays or other occasions generally celebrated;

C. The use of radio, television or phonograph sets located within a building or vehicle when all the loudspeakers thereof are directed toward the interior of the building or vehicle;

D. The noise produced by a vehicle necessary to propel the vehicle;

E. The noise produced by agricultural operations on agricultural land, as defined by Section 130.13.020, which are carried out in any manner consistent with the practice and within the standards of the agricultural industry.

(Prior Code, § 7543; Code 1997, § 9.16.020; Ord. No. 3990, § 2, 1988)

It is unlawful for any person to operate an internal combustion engine in the unincorporated territory of the County that is not equipped with a muffler designed for use with the engine, which is in good operating condition and is not equipped with a cutout, bypass or similar device. Any person convicted of violation of this section shall be punished according to the general penalties described in Chapter 1.24.

(Prior Code, § 7544; Code 1997, § 9.16.030)

The following words, when used in Section 9.16.050, shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section unless it clearly appears from the context that a different meaning is intended. All other words and phrases shall be given the ordinary meaning.

Loud and raucous noise means:

1. Any noise made by the motor of any automobile, truck, tractor, motorcycle, or aircraft of any kind not reasonably required in the operation thereof under the circumstances and shall include, but not be limited to, backfiring, motor racing, and the buzzing by airplanes;

2. The sound of the discharge of any explosive except by or with the permission of any appropriate State or local licensing agency;

3. The human voice or any record or recording thereof when amplified by any device whether electrical or mechanical or otherwise to such an extent as to cause it to unreasonably carry on to public or private property or to be heard by others using the public highways, public thoroughfares, or public buildings;

4. Any sound not included in the foregoing which is of such volume, intensity, or carrying power as to interfere with the peace and quiet of persons upon public or private property or other users of the public highways, thoroughfares, and buildings.

Public building means the occupied buildings or structures used by the general public, such as schools, courthouses and/or hospitals owned and maintained in whole or part by the County, the State, or the United States government.

Public highway means the full width of the right-of-way of any highway or road located in the County, which is maintained in whole or in part by the County or the State.

Public thoroughfare means the full width of the right-of-way or owned fee of any alley, sidewalk, bridge, or trail owned or maintained in whole or in part by the County or by the State in the County.

Sheriff means the Sheriff of the County.

(Prior Code, § 7581; Code 1997, § 9.16.040; Ord. No. 3189, § 1(part), 1981)

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it is unlawful for any person to willfully make, emit, or transmit or cause to be made, emitted, or transmitted any loud and raucous noise upon or from any public highway or public thoroughfare or from any aircraft of any kind whatsoever, or from any public or private property to such an extent that it unreasonably interferes with the peace and quiet of another's private property.

(Prior Code, § 7582; Code 1997, § 9.16.050; Ord. No. 3189, § 1(part), 1981)