New rules on Fresno County sound ordinance go into effect

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – New rules for the Noise Control Ordinance are now in effect for Fresno County; the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and Fresno County supervisors say they want the community to be considerate of their neighbors.

“If you’re holding events on a daily or weekly basis that’s disrupting the peace of your neighbors, then you’re going to probably be in line for a citation,” Tony Botti, with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said.

“It’s a problem for our residents, particularly residents that have to wake up early in the morning and go to work the next day,” Fresno County District 3 Supervisor Luis Chavez said. 

In December, The Fresno County Board of Supervisors approved amendments to the county’s Noise Control Ordinance. 

Botti said under the new guidelines, the person complaining is no longer required to give their name.

“A lot of times they don’t want us to write down their name because then they’ll identify themselves to the person getting a ticket and they don’t want to create bad blood in the neighborhood,” Botti said. 

Botti said deputies will use decibel meter reading devices to measure the sound.

“It varies on levels. Our hours are usually from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. is when you can be a little bit louder and the length of it is usually anywhere up to an hour for a steady level of 55 decibels,” Botti said. 

“Working on vehicles, mowing the lawn, those types of things are extremely higher almost twice as loud,” Botti said. 

Citations start at $250 dollars for the first offense, $500 on the second, and up to $1,000 on the third offense. 

“It’s not right to be blaring your music at all hours of the day. There’s people that have to work. There’s people that just like to relax,” Botti said. 

Chavez said illegal concerts have been an ongoing issue, agreeing with the updated ordinance rules. 

“In the rural communities, in the unincorporated areas. I’ve dealt with probably about six of them in the last year.

“That just creates a very difficult situation for folks out there in our community. And at the end of the day, we have to be respectful,” Chavez said. 

Botti said deputies will give a warning before issuing the citation but if people do not abide by these new rules, they can be ready to face the consequences.