Noise ordinances › Fremont, CA

Fremont noise ordinance: quiet hours, limits and complaints

Last updated: October 5, 2026

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Quiet hours in Fremont

The general prohibition in 9.25.020 has no clock; the time of day or night is one of nine listed factors. The 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. window appears in 9.25.030: sustained operation of motors, engines, vehicles, sweepers, vacuums, public address systems and other machines, or vehicle repair, testing or modification, unless enclosed in a sound-insulated structure so that the sound is not plainly audible from any residential property line (c); sound equipment, instruments, singing, chanting or yelling on any public street, park or other open area to which the public has access, which is unlawful outright during those hours (d); sound equipment plainly audible 50 feet from the building, structure or vehicle it is in, which is prima facie evidence of a violation (e)(1); band or orchestral concerts, rehearsals or practice loud enough to disturb neighbors (e)(2); and loudspeakers and public address systems used so as to disturb neighbors, except permitted public speaking or assembly (e)(3). Maintenance of residential property and occasional gatherings, shows and entertainment events are exempt only between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. (9.25.040). Construction (18.160.010): for development projects within 500 feet of residences, lodging, nursing homes or inpatient hospitals, weekdays 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday or holiday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and no construction on Sunday; projects not within 500 feet, weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and weekends or holidays 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; resident homeowners and their uncompensated volunteers working on their own single-family detached home, weekdays 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and weekends 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The city manager's designee may modify these hours under conditions listed in 18.160.010 (f), and construction necessary to prevent or repair an emergency condition is excepted (18.160.010 (c)). Places of entertainment outside the downtown district may not cause amplified sound audible beyond 75 feet from their structure between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., all places of entertainment must close and be vacated between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless the license sets more closure hours, and downtown venues have the decibel bands described under the limits (5.45.130 (c)-(d)).

Decibel limits — or rather, the lack of them

Chapter 9.25 contains no decibel figure. "The sound level of the objectionable noise" and "The sound level of the ambient noise" are the first two factors for judging a violation (9.25.020 (a)-(b)), but no number is set, and the per se rules use clock hours and audibility (plainly audible from a residential property line, or at 50 feet). The decibel figures elsewhere in the code are tied to particular districts, uses or venues: (1) zoning performance standards for all uses in the I-S, I-T and I-G industrial districts, measured by the enforcing agency at the property line nearest the source and enforced by the building official (18.50.040): Ldn 70 dB(A) at property lines when adjacent users are industrial, commercial, business, professional or office; Ldn 65 dB(A) next to hotels, motels and other lodging, outdoor sports and recreation, neighborhood parks and playgrounds; and, when adjacent or contiguous to residential, institutional or similar sensitive uses, an hourly Leq of 50 dB(A) by day (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) and 45 dB(A) at night (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) with an hourly Lmax of 70 dB(A) by day and 65 dB(A) at night; these drop 5 dB(A) for single-tone noise, noise consisting primarily of speech or music, or recurring impulsive noise when the site is adjacent to residential areas, and exclude occasional sounds generated by the movement of railroad equipment, temporary construction activities or warning devices; (2) the same Ldn, Leq and Lmax figures for equipment at wireless facilities, measured at the property lines (18.187.100 (e)), and for large recycling collection facilities (18.190.430 (c)(9)), while small recycling collection facilities may not exceed Ldn 60 db at the property line of residentially zoned or occupied property, hotels, schools, hospitals or neighborhood parks (18.190.430 (b)(10)); (3) for licensed places of entertainment in the downtown district, exterior limits of 75 dbA from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. and 65 dbA from 12:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. for fully enclosed structures (measured from the building exterior, but not from residential balconies or stoops facing roadways) and 80 dbA from 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and 65 dbA from 10:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. for outdoor areas (measured at the property line) (5.45.130 (d)(2)); (4) a cap of 20 decibels, measured at any point 50 feet beyond the perimeter, on the public address system a commercial swimming facility must operate (5.90.090 (e)); and (5) a subdivision design standard reducing CNEL to 60 db(A) on residential lots next to freeways, railroads, thoroughfares, parkways and industrial, commercial or recreational uses (17.25.110). None of these sets a decibel limit for noise from a house, a party or a construction site.

What the ordinance actually says

9.25.020: "Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter and in addition thereto, it is unlawful for any person to willfully make or continue or cause to be made or continued any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise which disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood or which causes discomfort or annoyance to any reasonable person of normal sensitiveness residing in the area."

9.25.030 (e)(1): "The operation of any such instrument, audio equipment, television set, machine or similar device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in such manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from the building, structure or vehicle in which it is located shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this subsection."

9.25.030 (d): "The use of electronic equipment (including but not limited to amplifiers, radio loudspeakers, phonographs, tape amplifiers), electronically operated or acoustic musical instruments, other device of like design used for producing sound, or singing, chanting, or yelling in or upon any public street, park or grounds, or any other open area to which the public has access, whether publicly or privately owned, between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. is unlawful."

18.160.010 (a): "Except as modified herein, construction activity for development projects in any zoning district on any property within 500 feet of one or more residences, lodging facilities, nursing homes or inpatient hospitals shall be limited to the weekday hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and the Saturday or holiday hours of 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., while Sunday construction is not allowed."

9.25.040 (f): "Industrial Districts. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to industrial districts I-S, I-T, and G-I zones."

9.25.050: "Any violations of the provisions of this chapter are expressly deemed and declared to be a public nuisance, and such violation shall be abated in the manner provided in Chapter 8.60."

6.50.020: "It shall be unlawful for a person to keep or permit to remain on any premises within the city any animal or combination of animals that habitually, unnecessarily, and unreasonably disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood or person by howling, barking, crying, baying, crowing, or making any other noise."

Quoted verbatim from the official codified text (Fremont Municipal Code, Title 9 "Public Peace, Morals and Welfare," Chapter 9.25 "Noise": 9.25.010 policy and purpose, 9.25.020 general prohibition, 9.25.030 prohibited acts, 9.25.040 exemptions, 9.25.050 enforcement (all Ord. 04-2021 § 1, 4-20-21). Title 18 "Planning and Zoning": Chapter 18.160 "Construction Hours," 18.160.010 (Ord. 36-2005 § 1, 11-22-05; 1990 Code § 8-2205); 18.50.040 performance standards for the I-S, I-T and I-G industrial districts (Ord. 17-2016 § 18, 9-13-16). Title 6 "Animals," 6.50.020 excessive noise prohibited (Ord. 16-2018 § 1, 6-5-18). Title 8 "Health and Safety," Chapter 8.60 "Neighborhood Preservation" (the abatement procedure 9.25.050 points to). Decibel figures outside Chapter 9.25: Title 5, 5.45.130 (c)-(d) places of entertainment operating conditions (Ord. 4-2009 § 1, 1-27-09; Ord. 11-2009 § 6, 5-12-09; Ord. 13-2015 § 1, 6-2-15) and 5.90.090 (e) commercial swimming facility public address systems; Title 17, 17.25.110 subdivision noise attenuation; Title 18, 18.187.100 (e) wireless facilities and 18.190.430 (b)(10), (c)(9) recycling facilities. Title 1 "General Provisions": 1.15.010-1.15.020 criminal violations and penalties; 1.20.080 administrative citation penalties. Title 2, 2.35.010 holidays (the definition 18.160.010 points to). The host states: "The Fremont Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 02-2026, passed May 5, 2026." Text read on Code Publishing (codepublishing.com, the City's code host, linked from fremontpolice.gov) on 2026-10-05.). Verified against the live code on 2026-10-05. Ordinances get amended — before acting on a specific provision, check the linked official code. This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice.

How to file a noise complaint in Fremont

Per fremontpolice.gov, the noise ordinance "allows for police to mitigate excessive and unnecessary noise via a low-level enforcement tool (i.e. citation)", and the Department's FAQ says: "What number should I call for a non-emergency? Please call (510) 790-6800, option 3." Its Dispatch page lists the "Dispatch/ Public Safety Communications Center Main Line 510-790-6800 (select option 3)"; call 9-1-1 when a life is in danger or a crime is in progress. Barking dogs: per fremont.gov, Animal Services asks the neighbor to notify the owner first, then to fill out the online form or call 510-790-6635; an Animal Services Officer investigates, and the City sends the complainant a Barking Log and Petition to keep for two weeks with signatures from at least two other people who do not live at the same address, returned within seven days after the two weeks end. Code Enforcement takes reports through a Fremont App online service request, by email or at 510-494-4430; its "Types of Code Violations" page lists unsafe and unsanitary properties, construction without permits or not following the California Building Code, residential auto repair, signs and weeds, does not list noise or construction hours, and says to contact Code Enforcement about a concern that is not listed. Under the code, construction-hour violations are a public nuisance for which staff may withhold inspections (18.160.010 (g)), and construction in violation of the noise chapter may also draw a stop work order or permit revocation (9.25.030 (b)). Sources: https://www.fremontpolice.gov/community/noise-ordinance, https://www.fremontpolice.gov/about-us/about-fremont-police/faq, https://www.fremontpolice.gov/about-us/administrative-operations-division/dispatch, https://www.fremont.gov/government/departments/animal-services/tri-city/animal-shelter/report/barking and https://www.fremont.gov/government/departments/code-enforcement/types-of-code-violations.

Step by step, with what to log and what to expect after you file: how to file a noise complaint in Fremont. For the general playbook — documenting the problem, talking to a landlord or HOA, when 311 beats 911 — see the noise complaints guide.

Worth knowing

(1) Chapter 9.25 is recent: the Police Department's page says the City had no municipal noise ordinance before the Council adopted this one on April 6, 2021, while the code history dates Ord. 04-2021 to 4-20-21. (2) The police page summarizes the chapter as prohibiting disturbing noises "between the hours of 10 PM – 7 AM", but the general prohibition in 9.25.020 applies at any hour; only the specific rules in 9.25.030 (c)-(e) carry the 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. window. (3) Sound in public streets, parks and other publicly accessible open areas from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. is unlawful without any showing of disturbance (9.25.030 (d)). (4) Exemptions (9.25.040): emergency work and government emergency response; reasonable sounds from authorized school bands, school athletic and entertainment events and occasional public and private gatherings, public dances, shows, bands and sporting and entertainment events "conducted between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m."; special events with a Chapter 12.25 permit; urban core operations under 18.188.020 and places of entertainment in compliance with 5.45.130; state- or federally regulated noise; maintenance of residential property from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; garbage removal in commercial and mixed-use districts even next to homes; public agency, franchisee and utility work; and the industrial districts, which the exemption names "I-S, I-T, and G-I zones" while the zoning chapter calls the general industrial district I-G. (5) Construction rules depend on distance and on who is working: the strict hours apply to development projects within 500 feet of homes, lodging, nursing homes or inpatient hospitals; resident homeowners and their uncompensated volunteer workers on their own single-family detached home are limited to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends, and subsection (b) does not repeat the Sunday ban in (a) (18.160.010 (a)-(b)). "Holiday" is defined by reference to 2.35.010, the list of days City offices close, which begins with Saturdays and Sundays. Permitted projects must print their construction hours on the plan cover sheet and, except single-family additions and alterations, post them on a notice board at the site (18.160.010 (d)-(e)). (6) Penalties: a violation of the code is a misdemeanor that the enforcement official may charge as an infraction (1.15.010); a misdemeanor carries up to $1,000 and/or six months, an infraction up to $100, $200 for a second conviction within one year and $500 for a third or later conviction within one year (1.15.020). An administrative citation, unless a Council civil penalty schedule provides otherwise, is up to $100, $200 for a second within one year for the same code section and $500 for a third or later (1.20.080); the Police Department's noise page says "Please refer to the City of Fremont's Civil Penal Schedule for information on fines"; that schedule was not read for this summary. (7) Animal noise is covered twice: 9.25.030 (a) (any disturbing, excessive or offensive animal noise, excusing noise provoked by trespass or teasing) and 6.50.020 (habitual, unnecessary and unreasonable howling, barking, crying, baying, crowing or other noise). (8) Places of entertainment (commercial establishments where patrons are offered or consume alcohol and live entertainment is provided, 5.45.020 (g)) are carved out of Chapter 9.25 when they comply with 5.45.130 (9.25.040 (b)); that section sets the downtown decibel limits and the 75-foot, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. audibility rule for venues outside downtown, and a special event permit under Chapter 12.25 controls where it conflicts (5.45.130 (d)). The lead-in to 5.45.130 (d) says its restrictions apply to places of entertainment "located in the downtown district", although (d)(1) governs places outside it.

Document it before you report it

Fremont enforces mostly by audibility, but a log of measured levels still makes a complaint concrete and credible. Take a quick reading with the free online decibel meter — it runs in your browser and records nothing — and check how loud your block is on the Fremont noise map. For time-stamped measurement history you can show a landlord or code officer, the app keeps a log.