County Moves Forward With New Noise Rules for Unincorporated Areas
Sheriff's Office says it needs decibel readers.
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to introduce a new noise ordinance aimed at giving law enforcement clearer authority to address loud late-night parties and other disturbances in unincorporated areas.
The proposed law would add Chapter 8.100 to the Mendocino County Code and establish decibel limits for nighttime noise. Under the ordinance, sound from radios, amplifiers or machinery could not exceed 60 decibels for continuous noise or 75 decibels for intermittent noise when measured from an adjacent residential property line between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Deputy County Counsel Brina Blandon said violations would be treated as infractions. Repeat violations could trigger a public nuisance designation if three disturbances occur within a set timeframe, opening the door to civil enforcement.
Barking dogs, in most cases, will be referred to animal control.
Supervisors said the ordinance is intended to address a long-standing enforcement gap. Previously, sheriff’s deputies relied on state law that required a specific complainant, which officials said discouraged residents from reporting disturbances for fear of retaliation.
Supervisor Maureen Mulheren said the issue has been under discussion for years, while Supervisor John Haschak and others pointed to recurring problem areas such as Redwood Valley, where large gatherings have generated repeated complaints.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said the ordinance would help deputies more effectively respond to citizen complaints. However, a representative for Sheriff Matt Kendall raised concerns about the cost and practicality of enforcement. He said the department does not currently have the decibel meters needed to support citations in court. The devices cost between $500 and $800 each, and multiple units would be needed to cover the county’s geographic regions.
He also cautioned that noise complaints will remain a lower priority than emergency calls.
Supervisors also raised questions about how the ordinance would be applied. Supervisor Ted Williams, who said he supports the ordinance, also pointed out that the terms such as “continuous” and “intermittent” noise lack clear definitions for duration and measurement, which could present challenges if the ordinance is contested.
Deputy County Counsel Matthew Kiedrowski said staff would work to refine those definitions, potentially drawing from standards already used in the county’s inland zoning code.
The ordinance includes exemptions for school activities, public agency work, emergency operations, and activities protected under the county’s right-to-farm and right-to-industry provisions.
Tuesday’s vote introduced the ordinance and waived the first reading. A second reading and final adoption are required before it takes effect.
Read our additional coverage of the March 24, 2026 Board of Supervisor’s meeting:
County Adopts First Air Toxics Report: No High Health Risks Identified
Supervisors Re-zone Former Rangeland for Limited Residential Use Near Ukiah
County Approves Financing Tools for Roads, Sewer, and Development Infrastructure
Back in the ‘60s we heard about the $500.00 hammer that the defense department purchased. Sixty odd years later we have the $500-800 decibel meters. You wonder where these bureaucrats buy their stuff.