Rocklin Municipal Code Ch. 9.52 Noise Standards

The purpose of this chapter is to protect the community from excessively loud noises and certain nuisance noises, consistent with the goals, policies, and standards set forth in the Rocklin General Plan.

(Ord. No. 1197, § 3 (Exh. A), 1-27-2026)

A. "Amplified sound" means any sound or noise, including the human voice, which is increased in volume or intensity by means of electrical power.

B. "Discernable" means any noise which can be heard or detected by the unaided and unimpaired human ear which sound is sufficiently distinct so as to clearly identify its source.

C. "Hand tools" means a tool held in the hand and operated with or without electricity or other power and shall include, but is not limited to, hammers, power saws, drills, sanders, nail guns, staple guns, and chain saws.

D. "Heavy equipment" means equipment and machinery which operate on wheels or tracks, and shall include, but is not limited to, front-end loaders, bulldozers, tractors and power shovels used to complete heavy construction work that is difficult to do by human power and includes, but is not limited to, tractors, backhoes, graders, pile drivers, cranes, forklifts, dump trucks, and water trucks.

E. "Landscape maintenance activities" means any noise-generating activity related to maintaining or grooming landscape, yards, trees, bushes, etc., and shall include, but is not limited to, the use of lawn mowers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, chain saws, post hole diggers, etc.

F. "Light equipment" means smaller, more portable machines and tools used for tasks on smaller construction projects, and shall include, but is not limited to, as mini-excavators, skid-steer loaders, and hand tools, as opposed to the larger, heavier machinery used in large-scale construction and shall include, but is not limited to jackhammers, vibratory compactors, generators, augers, and compressors.

G. "Self-powered equipment" means machinery, and shall include, but is not limited to, bulldozers and excavators, that has its own engine and drive system, allowing it to move and operate independently on a construction site, without needing to be towed or pulled.

(Ord. No. 1197, § 3 (Exh. A), 1-27-2026)

All noise generating activities shall comply with the following standards:

A. Noise generated from construction activity - hours restricted.

1. Property owners, tenants, developers, contractors or agents of the same shall not engage in any construction, demolition, repair, maintenance, and similar activities, on any property within the city whether residential or non-residential, in or within one hundred feet of an occupied residence that generates any discernable noise on weekdays before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. and on weekends before 8:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m.

2. Prohibited noise-generating activities. Noise-generating activities prohibited by subsection (A)(1) include, but are not limited to, the following:

a. Operation of heavy equipment;

b. Operation of light equipment;

c. Use of hand tools; and

d. Other construction-related activities including the use of communication devices such as radios, playing music, yelling, whistling, etc.

3. Equipment "warm-up" areas, water storage tanks, equipment storage areas, and stationary noise-generating machinery (i.e. pumps, electrical generators, etc.) shall be located away from existing residences and other sensitive noise receptors to the extent feasible.

4. All "self-powered" equipment, stationary noise sources (i.e. pumps, electrical generators, etc.), and construction equipment shall be equipped with factory noise control devices (e.g., mufflers) and shall be maintained in good working order.

B. Noise generated from non-construction activity-hours restricted.

1. Landscape maintenance activities within one hundred feet of an occupied residential structure shall not generate any discernable noise at the property line on weekdays before 7:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. and on weekends before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. Except that golf course maintenance may take place between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. March through October, and 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. November through February (in recognition of daylight savings hours).

2. Miscellaneous activities at residential structures including but not limited to automotive repair, furniture construction, repair or refinishing, amplified sound, etc. shall not generate any discernable noise at the property lines of the source residence on weekdays before 7:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. and on weekends before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.

3. In commercially zoned areas, use of an amplified sound system to provide music for an outdoor seating or activity area is permissible however such music is intended to be a muted background noise and shall not be audible from a distance of one hundred-feet from the outdoor seating or activity area line on weekdays before 7:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m. and on weekends before 8:00 a.m. and after 10:00 p.m.

(Ord. No. 1197, § 3 (Exh. A), 1-27-2026)

A. Except when an owner engages in construction, demolition, repair, maintenance, remodeling, or similar activities at his or her own residence, when construction noise regulated by this chapter will be generated, the owner, or the owner's designee, shall designate a noise coordinator for the project and adhere to the following:

1. As a function of on-site project management, an on-site noise coordinator shall be employed by the property owner or designee, and their name, e-mail address and telephone number along with instructions on how to file a noise complaint shall be posted conspicuously around the project site, and at all vehicle entrances to public streets, during all project construction phases. The posted signage shall include the city's construction activity hours restrictions set forth in Section 9.52.030 (A)(1). The sign(s) shall be weather proof and a minimum size of four feet by four feet and include three-inch-tall minimum lettering.

2. The noise coordinator's duties shall include fielding and documenting noise complaints, determining the source of the complaint (e.g., piece of construction equipment), determining whether noise levels at the project boundary are within acceptable limits consistent with the general plan hourly noise standards and with the noise level and time of day restrictions noted above in Section 9.52.030 (A)(1), and reporting complaints to the city with documented noise levels at the time of complaint via email.

3. The noise coordinator shall work, to the extent feasible, with the surrounding residents and project contractors to schedule activities to minimize disturbance of residents during the daytime hours. Prior to commencement of any early morning or night time work required by the contractor, the city or utility companies, approval from the community development director is required. The request for approval shall be submitted not less than seventy two hours in advance of the work commencing and the noise coordinator shall provide documentation of notification to the neighboring property owners.

(Ord. No. 1197, § 3 (Exh. A), 1-27-2026)

The following noise sources are exempt from compliance with this chapter:

A. Emergency activities involving and/or related to the execution of the duties of duly authorized governmental personnel and others providing emergency response to the general public, including, but not limited to, sworn peace officers, emergency personnel, utility personnel, and the operation of emergency response vehicles and equipment.

B. Safety, warning and alarm devices, including commercial, residential, and car alarms, and other warning devices that are designed to protect the health, safety and welfare of persons or the public, provided such devices are not negligently maintained or operated. This exemption shall not supersede alarm system and excessive alarm requirements codified within Rocklin Municipal Code Chapter 9.44.

C. The normal operation of public and private schools and day care facilities and related ancillary activities such as sporting events, cheer, band, dances, etc.

D. Parades, public displays of fireworks consistent with Rocklin Municipal Code Chapter 8.24, concerts, and other special events presented by the city, or for which an appropriate authorization or permit has been obtained from the city, provided the activity or event remains in full compliance with all conditions of approval as noted on the approved permit.

E. All activities authorized or permitted by the city on or in publicly owned property and facilities (such as, but not limited to, city parks, the Rocklin Event Center, the Quarry Park Amphitheater and Quarry Park Adventures).

F. All activities by public employees and employees of utility providers (including solid waste collection) while in the authorized discharge of their responsibilities, provided that such activities have been authorized by the employing authority, and / or, where applicable, the owner or agent of private property or facilities.

G. Activities outside of the regulatory control of the city of Rocklin including but not limited to the operation of railroads, freeways, highways, and aircraft.

H. Organized sports events including, but not limited to, football, baseball, softball, and soccer games.

I. Emergency generators and pumps at single family residences.

J. The community development director may grant exceptions to any of the noise restrictions in this Chapter 9.52, if special and unusual circumstances exist that make strict adherence infeasible or impractical.

(Ord. No. 1197, § 3 (Exh. A), 1-27-2026)

A. The community development director shall be authorized to make a determination as to the application of standards or exemptions, not clearly defined in this chapter.

B. Any person dissatisfied by an act or determination of the community development director relating to the interpretation or enforcement of this chapter, may appeal such act or determination as provided in Chapter 9.01 - Appeals Procedure.

(Ord. No. 1197, § 3 (Exh. A), 1-27-2026)

A. Violations. Violations of this chapter shall be infractions. Each day any such violation is committed or permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as such.

B. Administrative citations. Violations of the chapter are also subject to administrative citations, penalty, and fines as provided by Chapter 1.14 of this Code.

C. Violations deemed public nuisance. Violations of this chapter shall constitute a public nuisance.

D. Nonexclusive remedy. Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, the city shall not be prevented from taking any other civil or criminal action to abate any violation of this chapter.

E. Persons responsible. Any person, owner, agent, manager or supervisor in charge of operating, ordering, directing or allowing any activity or the operation or maintenance of any device, object, or machine creating a noise in violation of this chapter, shall be subject to the requirements of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1197, § 3 (Exh. A), 1-27-2026)

The provisions of this chapter are hereby declared to be severable. If any provision, clause, word, sentence, or paragraph of this chapter or the application thereof to any person, establishment, or circumstances shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions or application of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1197, § 3 (Exh. A), 1-27-2026)