21.040 Dangerous and Objectionable Elements.

A. Noise Regulations.

1. Purpose. It is declared to be the policy of the City, in the exercise of its police power, to protect properties

and the general health, safety and welfare of persons from unnecessary, excessive and annoying noise

disturbances. In accordance with this policy, the City of Petaluma is hereby designated a quiet city. At certain

levels, noises are detrimental to the health and welfare of the citizenry and, in the public interest, shall be

prohibited. It is the purpose of this chapter to implement the goals of the Health and Safety Element of the

General Plan by prescribing standards prohibiting detrimental levels of noise and by providing an eMective

and readily available remedy for violations. The provisions of this chapter and the remedies contained herein

shall be cumulative and are not intended to replace any otherwise available remedies for public, private or

mixed nuisances, nor any other civil or criminal remedies otherwise available. In addition, the regulations

contained herein are not intended to substitute for any noise analysis conducted as a part of the City’s

environmental review process for discretionary permit approvals, nor is it intended to limit more strict noise

control requirements for discretionary permit approvals should more strict measures be found to be

necessary in order to maintain noise levels that are not detrimental to the health and welfare of the citizenry.

2. De4nitions.

a. Ambient noise. The composite of noise from all sources within a given area. Ambient noise

constitutes the existing level of environmental noise at a given location.

b. Noise disturbance. Any sound which, because of its loudness (amplitude), duration, or character,

disturbs, injures or endangers the public comfort, health, peace or safety within the limits of the City of

Petaluma.

c. Decibel (dB). The measurement unit used for loudness of sound/noise.

d. A-Weighted Sound Level (dBA). A decibel scale that approximates the way the human ear responds to

frequency levels.

The Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 2907, passed September 8, 2025.

Ch. 21 Performance Standards | Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance Page 3 of 8

e. Equivalent Sound Level (Leq). A term used to assign a single value A-weighted decibel level to the

measured average sound exposure over a period of time.

f. Noise Control O5cer. The City of Petaluma Community Development Director and the City of

Petaluma Police Chief or his/her designee.

g. Quiet City. A City that strives to minimize the amount of noise to which the community, particularly a

residential area, is exposed through the implementation of enforceable noise standards.

3. Noise Regulations Generally.

a. The following speciJc acts, subject to the exemptions provided in Section 21.040(A)(5), are declared

to be public nuisances and are prohibited:

1) The operation or use of any of the following before 7:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m. daily (except

Saturday, Sunday and State, Federal or Local Holidays, when the prohibited time shall be before

9:00 a.m. and after 10:00 p.m.):

2) A hammer or any other device or implement used to repeatedly pound or strike an object.

3) An impact wrench, or other tool or equipment powered by compressed air.

4) Any tool or piece of equipment powered by an internal-combustion engine such as, but not

limited to, chain saw, backpack blower, and lawn mower. Except as speciJcally included in this

Ordinance, motor vehicles, powered by an internal-combustion engine and subject to the State of

California vehicle code, are excluded from this prohibition.

5) Any electrically or battery powered tool or piece of equipment used for cutting, drilling, or

shaping wood, plastic, metal, or other materials or objects, such as but not limited to a saw, drill,

lathe or router.

6) Any of the following: the operation and/or loading or unloading of heavy equipment (such as

but not limited to bulldozer, road grader, back hoe), ground drilling and boring equipment, hydraulic

crane and boom equipment, portable power generator or pump, pavement equipment (such as but

not limited to pneumatic hammer, pavement breaker, tamper, compacting equipment), pile-driving

equipment, vibrating roller, sand blaster, gunite machine, trencher, concrete truck, and hot kettle

pump and the like.

7) Construction, demolition, excavation, erection, alteration or repair activity.

8) Operating or permitting the operation of powered model vehicles including but not limited to

cars, aircraft and boats.

9) Using or operating for any purpose any loudspeaker, loudspeaker system or similar device in

such a manner as to create a noise disturbance. Any permit issued pursuant to PMC Section