Del Mar Fairgrounds

The Del Mar Fairgrounds, which is around 340 acres of land area in north coastal San Diego County, is owned and operated by the 22^nd District Agricultural Association (DAA), a State of California agency. Although around 80% of the Fairgrounds is in the City of Del Mar, the City as a municipality has no authority to approve/disapprove activities held on the Fairgrounds property or to enforce noise ordinance restrictions.

The Fairgrounds is governed by a Board of Directors, each of whom is appointed by the Governor. It hosts around 300 events year-round attracting approximately three million visitors annually, including the annual county fair, the summer and fall thoroughbred races, hundreds of special events and trade shows, and an off-track betting facility that operates year-round.

Noise Ordinance

Per the 22nd DAA noise ordinance, under the direction and supervision of the 22nd DAA and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Event Manager, noise monitoring equipment is placed on the perimeter of the Fairgrounds property during events, except during the annual San Diego County Fair. This equipment monitors decibel levels of events that are held on the property. If during an event the decibel levels exceed the Noise Ordinance levels, the system is set-up to notify the Event Manager on duty.

For more information on the DAA noise ordinance, please visit: Del Mar Fairgrounds
Recon Noise Analysis Report (PDF) (March 4, 2016)
Letter from City of Del Mar re. Fairgrounds 2016 Summer Concerts and KAABOO Noise Concerns (PDF) (October 10, 2016)

Annual Events at the Del Mar Fairgrounds

San Diego County Fair
Del Mar National Horse Show
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
The Scream Zone