Noise and construction hours in Merced County

Each rule below links to the section of the Merced County Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Merced County's code says

Merced County code What Merced County's code adds
Construction hours on weekdays	7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Applies: Weekdays. Construction, drilling, earthmoving, digging or demolition equipment. Other hours only for emergency work or when sound stays within county noise limits. § 10.60.040 · code text Operating or permitting the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling, earthmoving, excavating, or demolition work between six p.m. and seven a.m. the following day on a weekday or at any time on a weekend day or legal holiday, except for emergency work, or when the sound level does not exceed any applicable relative or absolute limit specified in Section 10.60.030;
Construction hours on weekends and holidays	No construction tools or equipment. Applies: Weekend days and legal holidays. Except emergency work, or when the sound stays within the county noise limits. § 10.60.040 · code text Operating or permitting the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling, earthmoving, excavating, or demolition work between six p.m. and seven a.m. the following day on a weekday or at any time on a weekend day or legal holiday, except for emergency work, or when the sound level does not exceed any applicable relative or absolute limit specified in Section 10.60.030;
Leaf blowers and equipment	Home power tools, mowers and farm equipment are exempt 7 a.m.–8 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. weekends and holidays. Applies: Only if they make less than 85 dBA at or within any residential property line. § 10.60.030 · code text Noise from domestic power tools, lawn mowers, and agricultural equipment when operated between seven a.m. and eight p.m. on weekdays and between eight a.m. and eight p.m. on weekends and legal holidays, provided they generate less than 85 dBA at or within any real property line of a residential property;
Noise limit at homes	No more than 65 dBA Ldn. Applies: On residential property. § 10.60.030 · code text Exceeds 65 dBA Ldn on residential real property or 70 dBA Ldn on nonresidential real property; No more than 75 dBA Lmax. Applies: On residential property. § 10.60.030 · code text Exceeds 75 dBA Lmax on residential real property or 80 dBA Lmax on nonresidential real property. Noise may not be 10 dBA or more above the background sound level. Applies: Daytime hours, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. § 10.60.030 · code text Exceeds the background sound level by at least 10 dBA during daytime hours (seven a.m. to ten p.m.) and by at least five dBA during nighttime hours (ten p.m. to seven a.m.). Noise may not be 5 dBA or more above the background sound level. Applies: Nighttime hours, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. § 10.60.030 · code text Exceeds the background sound level by at least 10 dBA during daytime hours (seven a.m. to ten p.m.) and by at least five dBA during nighttime hours (ten p.m. to seven a.m.).

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Frequently asked questions

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Merced County?

Merced County's code: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Weekdays. Construction, drilling, earthmoving, digging or demolition equipment. Other hours only for emergency work or when sound stays within county noise limits.) (§ 10.60.040); No more than 65 dBA Ldn. (On residential property.) (§ 10.60.030).

Noise and construction hours in Merced County

What Merced County's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

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