Bay Area town seeks to curb loud music, inciteful language and fighting with revised rules

"It lacked clear direction and consequences for "routine neighborhood issues," said Lauren Berges, a senior management analyst with Windsor. In particular, Berges said the town, in recent months, has received feedback from residents that highlighted some recurring neighborhood noise concerns, primarily loud music. Records from the Sheriff's Office show that in 2025, Windsor police received 136 calls for loud music, accounting for 14% of the 920 disturbance-related reports for the year."

"Starr View Drive resident Dennis Pryor has made one of those disturbance-related calls. "We've heard gunshots, fireworks, loud noises," Pryor told the town council. "We called the police department. They go over there, tell (people) to shut it down. It starts again after 10 minutes. There are no fines involved. It's a slap on the wrist at best. We have babies that can't sleep at night.""

Windsor's revised disturbing the peace ordinance imposes fines up to $500 for excessive noise, inciteful or offensive language, and fighting in public places, effective March 4. The ordinance defines "unreasonable noises and disturbances" that can trigger fines when a complaint is validated. Town police, staffed by the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, struggled to enforce the previous law, unchanged since 1995, which lacked clear direction and consequences for routine neighborhood issues. Residents reported recurring noise problems, especially loud music; in 2025 police recorded 136 loud-music calls, 14% of 920 disturbance reports. Officials and residents cited enforcement limitations and disruptive neighborhood incidents.

Read at The Mercury News