Noise ordinances › Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles noise ordinance: quiet hours, limits and complaints

Last updated: August 11, 2026

Quiet hours in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has no single citywide "quiet hours" clause; night limits are set section by section, and the two that matter most to residents are these. First, under LAMC Sec. 111.03 the presumed ambient noise level drops at night, with nighttime running from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and daytime from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., so in residential zones the floor falls from 50 dB(A) to 40 dB(A) and the same noise that was legal at 9 p.m. can be a violation at 11 p.m. Second, under Sec. 112.04(a) no lawn mower, backpack blower, lawn edger, riding tractor or other machinery or hand tool that makes a loud, raucous or impulsive sound may be operated between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in any residential zone or within 500 feet of a residence. Construction is regulated separately: Sec. 112.03 hands it to Sec. 41.40, which bans noisy construction, repair and excavation work, plus equipment operation, repair and servicing and job-site material deliveries, between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. every day; and under Sec. 41.40(c) anyone other than an individual homeowner working on their own single-family dwelling may not do such work on or within 500 feet of residential land before 8:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. on a Saturday or national holiday, nor at any time on a Sunday. Three further night rules catch common complaints: loading or unloading vehicles, or running dollies, carts or forklifts, so as to cause impulsive, raucous or unnecessary noise within 200 feet of any residential building is barred between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (Sec. 114.03(a), with a narrow exception in Sec. 114.03(b): a Department of Transportation business-program permit can widen the window to 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., but only in the South Los Angeles area bounded by Western Avenue, the Santa Monica Freeway, Central Avenue and the San Diego Freeway, and never for high-noise businesses such as trash pickup); rubbish and garbage collection within 200 feet of a residential building is barred between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. without a Police Commission permit (Sec. 113.01); and repairing, rebuilding, reconstructing or dismantling a motor vehicle on residential property in a residential zone, or within 500 feet of one, is barred between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. where it is done in such a manner that a reasonable person residing in the area is caused discomfort or annoyance, that it is audible more than 150 feet from the property line of the noise source, or that it raises the noise level on any occupied residential property (or, in a condominium, apartment house or duplex, in an adjoining unit) more than five decibels above the ambient level (Sec. 114.01), so quiet repair work in those hours is not itself a violation. Catering trucks may not sound music, chimes or bells within 200 feet of a residential building between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (Sec. 114.05), and places of public resort that play recorded music for hire must shut the music off between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. (Sec. 41.42).

Decibel limits

Los Angeles is a relative-limit city rather than a fixed-cap city: the operative number in most complaints is "more than five (5) decibels" above the ambient noise level measured on the complaining property (or, in a condominium, apartment house, duplex or attached business, in the adjoining unit). That +5 dB test appears in Sec. 112.01(c) for radios, TVs, stereos and instruments, Sec. 112.02(a) for air conditioning, refrigeration, heating and pool pumping/filtering equipment, Sec. 112.04(b) for machinery, equipment, tools and "any other activity," and Sec. 114.01(c) and 114.02(a)3 for vehicle repair and motor-driven vehicles. Sec. 111.03 then sets a floor so a very quiet street cannot make the +5 test impossibly strict: where actual ambient is lower, these presumed ambient levels in dB(A) are used instead, day (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) / night (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) - A1, A2, RA, RE, RS, RD, RW1, RW2, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 zones: 50 day / 40 night; P, PB, CR, C1, C1.5, C2, C4, C5 and CM: 60 / 55; M1, MR1 and MR2: 60 / 55; M2 and M3: 65 / 65. At a boundary between two zones the quieter zone's level is used. In practice that means roughly 55 dB(A) daytime and 45 dB(A) at night as the effective residential trigger point when the street itself is quiet. There are also two true fixed caps. Sec. 112.05 caps powered equipment and powered hand tools measured at 50 feet, between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., in or within 500 feet of a residential zone: 75 dB(A) for construction, industrial and agricultural machinery; 75 dB(A) for equipment of 20 HP or less intended for infrequent residential use such as chain saws, log chippers and powered hand tools; and 65 dB(A) for equipment intended for repetitive residential use such as lawn mowers, backpack blowers, small lawn and garden tools and riding tractors. Those three limits are expressly superseded by any final Federal EPA noise regulations for the same equipment published in the Federal Register, and do not apply where compliance is technically infeasible (the burden of proving infeasibility is on the person charged). Sec. 112.06 caps places of public entertainment at 95 dB(A) at any point normally occupied by a customer unless a hearing-damage warning sign is posted at each public entrance. Measurement rules are in Sec. 111.02: A-weighting, microphone four to five feet above ground and ten feet or more from the nearest reflective surface (interior readings at least four feet from the nearest wall, ceiling or floor), calibrated with an acoustic calibrator immediately before readings, with +5 added for a steady audible tone and +5 for repeated impulsive noise (and -5 for noise lasting under 15 minutes in any 60-minute period between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.). The meter response setting comes from the definition in Sec. 111.01(k), not from Sec. 111.02 itself: slow response, except that fast response is used for impulsive or rapidly varying sounds. Under Sec. 111.02(d), where two or more provisions of the chapter both apply, the provision establishing the lower noise level governs.

What the ordinance actually says

Sec. 111.01(k): "'Sound Level' (Noise level) in decibels (dB) is the sound measured with the 'A' weighting and slow responses by a sound level meter; except for impulsive or rapidly varying sounds, the fast response shall be used."

Sec. 111.02(d): "For those cases where a sound level measurement has been made pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and two or more provisions of this chapter apply, the provision establishing the lower or lowest noise level, respectively, shall be used."

Sec. 111.03: "Where the ambient noise level is less than the presumed ambient noise level designated in this section, the presumed ambient noise level in this section shall be deemed to be the minimum ambient noise level for purposes of this chapter."

Sec. 111.03, Table II heading note: "(In this chart, daytime levels are to be used from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and nighttime levels from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.)" and, following the table: "At the boundary line between two zones, the presumed ambient noise level of the quieter zone shall be used."

Sec. 112.01(b): "Any noise level caused by such use or operation which is audible to the human ear at a distance in excess of 150 feet from the property line of the noise source, within any residential zone of the City or within 500 feet thereof, shall be a violation of the provisions of this section."

Sec. 112.01(c): "Any noise level caused by such use or operation which exceeds the ambient noise level on the premises of any other occupied property, or if a condominium, apartment house, duplex, or attached business, within any adjoining unit, by more than five (5) decibels shall be a violation of the provisions of this section."

Sec. 112.04(a): "Between the hours of 10:00 p.m and. 7:00 a.m. of the following day, no person shall operate any lawn mower, backpack blower, lawn edger, riding tractor, or any other machinery, equipment, or other mechanical or electrical device, or any hand tool which creates a loud, raucous or impulsive sound, within any residential zone or within 500 feet of a residence." (the transposed "p.m and. 7:00 a.m." is printed that way in the code)

Sec. 112.04(c): "Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (a) above, no gas powered blower shall be used within 500 feet of a residence at anytime."

Sec. 112.05: "Between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., in any residential zone of the City or within 500 feet thereof, no person shall operate or cause to be operated any powered equipment or powered hand tool that produces a maximum noise level exceeding the following noise limits at a distance of 50 feet therefrom:" ... "(c) 65 dB(A) for powered equipment intended for repetitive use in residential areas, including lawn mowers, backpack blowers, small lawn and garden tools and riding tractors;"

Sec. 112.05: "Said noise limitations shall not apply where compliance therewith is technically infeasible The burden of proving that compliance is technically infeasible shall be upon the person or persons charged with a violation of this section." (the missing period after "infeasible" is printed that way in the code)

Sec. 112.06: "It shall be unlawful for any person to operate, play, or to permit the operation or playing of any radio, television receiver, phonograph, musical instrument, sound amplifying equipment, or similar device which produces, reproduces, or amplifies sound in any place of public entertainment at a sound level greater than 95 dB(A) at any point that is normally occupied by a customer, unless a conspicuous and legible sign is located outside such place, near each public entrance, stating:" followed by "WARNING: SOUND LEVELS WITHIN MAY CAUSE HEARING IMPAIRMENT."

Sec. 41.40(a): "No person shall, between the hours of 9:00 P.M. and 7:00 A.M. of the following day, perform any construction or repair work of any kind upon, or any excavating for, any building or structure, where any of the foregoing entails the use of any power driven drill, riveting machine excavator or any other machine, tool, device or equipment which makes loud noises to the disturbance of persons occupying sleeping quarters in any dwelling hotel or apartment or other place of residence."

Sec. 41.40(c): "No person, other than an individual homeowner engaged in the repair or construction of the homeowner's single-family dwelling shall perform any construction or repair work of any kind upon, or any earth grading for, any building or structure located on land developed with residential buildings under the provisions of Chapter I of this Code, or perform such work within 500 feet of land so occupied, before 8:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. on any Saturday or national holiday nor at any time on any Sunday."

Sec. 113.01: "It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in the business of collecting or disposing of rubbish or garbage to operate any refuse disposal truck, parking lot sweeper, or vacuum truck, or to collect, load, pick up, transfer, unload, dump, discard, sweep, vacuum, or dispose of any rubbish or garbage, as such terms are defined in Section 66.00 of this Code, within 200 feet of any residential building between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. of the following day, unless a permit therefore has been duly obtained beforehand from the Board of Police Commissioners."

Sec. 114.03(a): "It shall be unlawful for any person, between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of the following day, to load or unload any vehicle, or operate any dollies, carts, forklifts, or other wheeled equipment, which causes any impulsive sound, raucous or unnecessary noise within 200 feet of any residential building."

Sec. 115.02(b): "The operation or use of sound amplifying equipment for noncommercial purposes in all residential zones and within 500 feet thereof, except when used for regularly scheduled operative functions by any school or for the usual and customary purposes of any church, is prohibited between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. of the following day."

Sec. 115.02(f)1: "The sound shall not be audible at a distance in excess of 200 feet from the sound equipment."

Sec. 116.01: "Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter and in addition thereto, it shall be unlawful for any person to willfully make or continue, or cause to be made or continued, any loud, unnecessary, and unusual noise which disturbs the peace or quiet of any neighborhood or which causes discomfort or annoyance to any reasonable person of normal sensitiveness residing in the area."

Sec. 41.58.1(a)4: "'Loud or Unruly Gathering' means a gathering of persons at any Residence where Loud or Unruly Conduct occurs at the Residence or within 500 feet of the Residence, and which threatens or interferes with the public health, safety or welfare, or the comfortable enjoyment of life and property."

Sec. 41.58(c): "The Board shall determine a Second Response Service Fee schedule, subject to approval by the City Council by order or resolution, which shall be based upon the existing Special Security Costs incurred by the Department."

Sec. 114.01: "It shall be unlawful for any person, within any residential property located within any residential zone of the City or within 500 feet thereof, to repair, rebuild, reconstruct or dismantle any motor vehicle between the hours of 8:00 p.m. of one day and 8:00 a.m. of the next day in such manner: (a) That a reasonable person residing in the area is caused discomfort or annoyance;"

Quoted verbatim from the official codified text (Los Angeles Municipal Code, Chapter XI "Noise Regulation" (added by Ord. No. 144,331, eff. 3/2/73; substantially amended by Ord. No. 156,363, eff. 3/29/82), Secs. 111.00 through 116.01. Article 1 (Secs. 111.00-111.05) covers the declaration of policy, definitions, sound level measurement procedure, the presumed minimum ambient noise levels in Table II, nuisance/injunction remedies and the split of enforcement duties between LAPD and Building and Safety. Article 2 (Secs. 112.01-112.06) covers special noise sources: 112.01 radios, television sets and similar devices (150-foot audibility test and the +5 dB test), 112.02 air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, pumping and filtering equipment, 112.03 construction noise (cross-reference to Sec. 41.40), 112.04 powered equipment intended for repetitive use in residential areas including the 10 p.m.-7 a.m. ban and the total gas leaf blower ban, 112.05 the 75/75/65 dB(A)-at-50-feet caps on powered equipment and powered hand tools, and 112.06 the 95 dB(A) limit and warning sign for places of public entertainment. Article 3 (Sec. 113.01) covers rubbish and garbage collection hours. Article 4 (Secs. 114.01-114.07) covers vehicle repairs, motor driven vehicles, loading and unloading, audible signalling devices, commercial food vendor advertising devices, vehicle theft alarm systems and audible status indicators. Article 5 (Secs. 115.01-115.03) covers amplified sound, sound trucks and unenclosed tour buses. Article 6 (Sec. 116.01) is the loud, unnecessary and unusual noise catch-all. Related provisions sit in Chapter IV: Sec. 41.40 (noise due to construction and excavation work, hours and Police Commission variance), Sec. 41.42 (music reproducing devices, 2 a.m.-5 a.m.), Sec. 41.57 (loud and raucous noise prohibited), Sec. 41.58 (loud party second response fee) and Sec. 41.58.1 (loud or unruly gatherings, added by Ord. No. 185,451, eff. 4/15/18).). Verified against the live code on 2026-08-11. 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 Los Angeles

For noise happening right now (loud parties, amplified music, stereos, car noise, nightclub bass), call your local LAPD station or the LAPD non-emergency line at 1-877-ASK-LAPD (1-877-275-5273); LAMC Sec. 111.05(b) gives the Police Department enforcement authority over Secs. 41.32, 41.40, 41.42, 41.44, 41.57, 63.51(m), 112.01, 112.04, 112.05, 112.06, 113.01, 114.01 through 114.05, 115.02 through 115.03, and 116.01. LAPD's Noise Enforcement Team (Commission Investigation Division) specifically handles early or late construction, early or late deliveries, early or late trash pick-up, and music from nightclubs; reach it at 213-996-1250 or email a NET complaint form to noise@lapd.online. Fixed mechanical equipment such as a neighbour's air conditioner, pool pump or heater goes to the Department of Building and Safety at 213-252-3039, which Sec. 111.05(a) makes responsible for Secs. 112.02 and 112.04(c). Gas leaf blowers are routed by LAPD to the Bureau of Street Services at 213-847-6000 (leaf blower complaint line 1-800-996-CITY). Barking dogs go to Animal Regulations through your local animal shelter. For anything non-urgent, or to log a written record, use MyLA311 by calling 311 (or 213-473-3231 from outside the city), at myla311.lacity.gov, or via the MyLA311 app. Call 911 only if there is a safety threat, not for noise alone.

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

Worth knowing

Gas leaf blowers are banned outright: Sec. 112.04(c) bars any gas powered blower within 500 feet of a residence at any time of day, and both the operator and whoever hired them are liable, as an infraction capped at $100. Party noise has two separate regimes. Sec. 41.58 lets LAPD issue a First Response Notice and then bill a "Second Response Service Fee" for a return visit to a loud party; the amount is not fixed in the code but set by the Board of Police Commissioners in a fee schedule that must be approved by the City Council by order or resolution. Separately, Sec. 41.58.1 (added 2018) makes a "Loud or Unruly Gathering" - a gathering at a residence where loud noise or other listed conduct occurs at or within 500 feet of the residence - a public nuisance enforced by administrative citation against both the owner and the responsible party, with parents jointly liable where the responsible person is a minor. Nightlife has its own numbers: Sec. 112.06 lets a venue exceed 95 dB(A) at a customer position only if a hearing-damage warning sign is posted at each public entrance, and Sec. 41.42 shuts off recorded music played for hire at places of public resort between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Amplified sound in public places is a separate regime under Article 5: a permit under Sec. 103.111 is required, sound must not be audible more than 200 feet from the equipment, no commercial amplification is allowed in or within 500 feet of residential zones at any time, noncommercial amplification there is barred from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. except for regularly scheduled school functions and the usual and customary purposes of a church, and sound trucks are banned outright in the Central Traffic District and on Hollywood Boulevard (Vermont to La Brea), Wilshire, Sunset and Vine, on any street between 4:30 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., and on any street on Sunday. Sec. 41.57 separately prohibits loud or raucous noise from any sound making or sound amplifying device on private property, streets or public places. Vehicle horns and airhorns audible more than 200 feet are an infraction in or within 500 feet of a residential zone (Sec. 114.04), and car alarms must self-silence within five minutes (Sec. 114.06). Two permit/variance routes exist: after-hours construction requires express written permission from the Board of Police Commissioners through its Executive Director (Sec. 41.40(b)), and late-night refuse collection within 200 feet of a residence requires a Police Commission permit (Sec. 113.01); Sec. 41.40(b) also exempts manufacturing and industrial zones from the night construction ban entirely, and Sec. 41.40(c) exempts emergency repairs to buildings, earth, public utilities and public ways from the weekend rule. Preemption is explicit: Sec. 114.02(b) does not apply to vehicles operated on public highways, streets or rights-of-way or to off-highway vehicles regulated by the Vehicle Code, and Sec. 112.04(b) carves out aircraft, tow tractors, aircraft auxiliary power units, trains and motor vehicles governed by State or federal regulations, so freeway traffic, trains and LAX aircraft noise are not city enforcement matters; the Sec. 112.05 equipment caps are likewise superseded by any final Federal EPA noise regulations. Limits vary by zone (Sec. 111.03), with M2 and M3 industrial zones getting the same 65 dB(A) day and night while residential zones drop to 40 dB(A) at night, and at a zone boundary the quieter zone's level applies. Emergency work as defined in Sec. 111.01(d) is exempt throughout, and Sec. 111.04 declares violations a public nuisance abatable by restraining order or injunction, which matters for chronic problems that citations do not fix.

Document it before you report it

Los Angeles's limits are measured numbers, so a reading is direct evidence of how loud it really is. 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 Los Angeles noise map. For time-stamped measurement history you can show a landlord or code officer, the app keeps a log.