Noise ordinances › Oakland, CA

Oakland noise ordinance: quiet hours, limits and complaints

Last updated: October 1, 2026

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Quiet hours in Oakland

Oakland has several nights, each set by a different section. The Planning Code night is 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.: Table 17.120.01 drops the residential and civic receiving levels by 15 dBA in that window (60 to 45 dBA at the 20-minute level, 80 to 65 at the 0-minute level), while the commercial and industrial tables are the same at any time. The Municipal Code starts earlier: Sec. 8.18.020 makes the persistent emission of noise between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. that, "by reason of its raucous or nerve-racking nature," disturbs the peace or comfort of any person a nuisance; loading and unloading (8.18.010 C.8) and mechanically powered saws, sanders, drills, grinders and lawn or garden tools (C.9) may not create a noise disturbance across a residential or real property line between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Construction and demolition fall under 17.120.050 G: Table 17.120.04 gives daytime levels for 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (the column headed "Daily") and 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekends, and between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays or 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekends and federal holidays construction noise must meet the ordinary nighttime standards (G.2); use of pile drivers and jackhammers is prohibited on Sundays and holidays "except for emergencies and as approved in advance by the Building Official" (8.18.020 E). Grading operations are limited to 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and are prohibited on Sundays and holidays unless otherwise approved by the Building Official (15.04.3.2075, CBC Section 1810B item 4). No sound amplification permit may issue for equipment operated out of doors, or indoors to reach people out of doors, between 10:00 p.m. and 9:30 a.m. (12.56.030 A). Stationary emergency signaling devices may be tested only between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., and a complete-system test, allowed no more than once a calendar month, only between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. (8.18.010 C.5).

Decibel limits

Yes, in the Planning Code. Sec. 17.120.050 says the noise an activity "inherently and regularly" generates across real property lines may not exceed the receiving levels in Tables 17.120.01 to 17.120.03, each of which pairs a level with a cumulative number of minutes in an hour. Residential zones (Table 17.120.01, headed "Residential and Civic"), 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.: 60 dBA (20 minutes), 65 (10), 70 (5), 75 (1), 80 (0); 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.: 45, 50, 55, 60, 65. Commercial receivers, including the HBX zones and the D-CE-3 and D-CE-4 zones (Table 17.120.02), any time: 65, 70, 75, 80, 85. Industrial receivers (Table 17.120.03), any time: 70, 75, 80, 85, 90. Modifiers: where the measured ambient exceeds a standard, the standard is raised to equal the ambient (D); the standards in those three tables are 5 dBA lower for a simple tone such as a whine, screech or hum, for noise consisting primarily of speech or music, and for recurring impulse noise such as hammering or riveting (E). Measurement (F): A-weighting with slow response (fast for impulsive sounds), at any point on the receiver's property, the microphone generally 4 to 5 feet above the ground and 10 feet or more from the nearest reflective surface where possible; an interior complaint is measured inside the affected residential unit at least 4 feet from the wall, ceiling or floor nearest the source, with windows in their normal seasonal configuration. Construction and demolition (G, Table 17.120.04): short-term operations (less than 10 days) 80 dBA at residential and 85 at commercial or industrial receivers from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 65 and 70 on weekends from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; long-term operations (10 days or more) 65 and 70, and 55 and 60 on weekends; outside those hours the nighttime standards apply. Residential air conditioners and refrigeration systems: 50 dBA, or 55 dBA for systems installed before the section took effect (H). Mobile refrigeration units between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. (I) and commercial exhaust systems (J) may not be within 200 feet of a residential zone boundary unless enclosed so the level outside the enclosure is no more than 60 dBA and vibration is below the perception threshold. The Municipal Code's nuisance offense uses no meter: Sec. 8.18.010 makes "excessive" noise ("any unnecessary noise which persists for ten minutes or more") and "annoying" noise (a repetitive pattern, shrill frequencies or static-like sounds, including loud music, leaf blowers, alarms, engines and barking dogs) an infraction, and routes construction, refrigeration, air conditioning, compressor, exhaust and other commercial or industrial noise to the Planning Code standards (C.11). Amplified sound is judged by distance: Chapter 12.56 defines an "unreasonably loud manner" as audible 50 or more feet from the source and requires a permit for it, and Sec. 12.64.120 applies the same 50-foot test in parks, with permitted sound capped at 80 decibels at the park boundary.

What the ordinance actually says

Sec. 17.120.050: "All activities shall be so operated that the noise level inherently and regularly generated by these activities across real property lines shall not exceed the applicable values indicated in Subsection A., B., or C. as modified where applicable by the adjustments indicated in Subsection D. or E."

Sec. 17.120.050 E: "Each of the noise level standards specified above in Subsections A., B., and C. shall be reduced by five (5) dBA for a simple tone noise such as a whine, screech, or hum, noise consisting primarily of speech or music, or for recurring impulse noise such as hammering or riveting."

Sec. 17.120.050 G.2: "The nighttime noise level received by any land use and produced by any construction or demolition activity between weekday hours of seven (7) p.m. and seven (7) a.m. or between eight (8) p.m. and nine (9) a.m. on weekends and federal holidays shall not exceed the applicable nighttime noise level standards outlined in this Section."

Sec. 8.18.010 A: "It is unlawful for any person to create or allow to be created any excessive or annoying noise as defined herein. Any violation of the regulations specified herein shall be punishable as an infraction."

Sec. 8.18.010 B: ""Excessive noise" means any unnecessary noise which persists for ten minutes or more; such period of noise need not be witnessed by enforcement personnel if the occupants of two or more separate housing or commercial units certify that they have experienced such period of noise and describe with particularity the source."

Sec. 8.18.020: "The persistent maintenance or emission of any noise or sound produced by human, animal or mechanical means, between the hours of nine p.m. and seven a.m. next ensuing, which, by reason of its raucous or nerve-racking nature, shall disturb the peace or comfort, or be injurious to the health of any person shall constitute a nuisance."

Sec. 8.18.010 D.2: "If the noise disturbance persists for more than fifteen (15) minutes following the issuance of a written or verbal warning, or recurs within a one- week period from the issuance of such warning, then the person responsible for the event causing the noise disturbance shall be guilty of a violation of this Chapter."

Sec. 12.56.010: ""Unreasonably loud manner" means the volume of sound in the use or operation of any sound amplification equipment if such sound can be heard by a person from fifty (50) or more feet from the source of the amplification."

Quoted verbatim from the official codified text (Oakland Planning Code (Title 17), Chapter 17.120 "Performance Standards": 17.120.020 existing activities, 17.120.040 measurements, 17.120.050 noise (Tables 17.120.01–17.120.04; Ord. No. 13357, § 3(Exh. A), 2-16-2016; Ord. No. 13302, 2015; Ord. No. 13251, 2014; Ord. No. 13172, 2013; Ord. No. 13168, 2013; Ords. 12875 and 12872, 2008; Ord. 11895 § 7, 1996). Oakland Municipal Code, Title 8 "Health and Safety," Chapter 8.18 "Nuisances": 8.18.010 excessive and annoying noises prohibited (Ord. 11894 § 2, 1996), 8.18.020 persistent noises a nuisance (prior code § 3-1.02), 8.18.030 exceptions (Ord. 12239 § 1, 2000), 8.18.100 sound amplification from aircraft prohibited; Chapter 8.64 prohibition on combustion engine-powered leaf blowers and string trimmers (Ord. No. 13616, 10-6-2020); Title 12, Chapter 12.56 "Sound Amplification Equipment," 12.56.010–12.56.110 (12.56.030 amended by Ord. No. 13780, 2-6-2024), and 12.64.120 park noise regulation (Ord. 11893, 1996); Title 15, 15.04.3.2075 (CBC Chapter 18B, Section 1810B item 4, grading hours; Ord. No. 13861, 9-15-2025); Title 1, 1.28.020 (Chapter 8.18 violations are infractions). Municipal Code codified through Ord. No. 13870, passed 12-16-2025 (Supp. No. 102); Planning Code codified through Ord. No. 13868, enacted 12-16-2025 (Supp. No. 59); of the adopted-but-uncodified ordinances Municode lists for either code, none with a section list touches these sections, but Ord. No. 13894 (adopted 7-21-2026, amending the Planning Code) is listed with no sections and its content could not be checked. Text read on Municode (library.municode.com, the City's code host) on 2026-10-01.). Verified against the live code on 2026-10-01. 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 Oakland

Per oaklandca.gov: the Oakland Police Department page gives the non-emergency number (510) 777-3333 (911 for emergencies), and the City's guide "Reporting Public Nuisance Problems and Getting Your Voice Heard in Oakland, CA" lists the same non-emergency line and OPD's non-emergency online report (oaklandca.gov/services/report-a-crime-online). Planning & Building's "Construction Noise Ordinance & Violations" page takes construction-noise complaints through "File a Complaint Online" or the "Noise Violation Complaint Line: (510) 238-3381". The City's Animal Ordinance page says "For barking dogs or noisy animals, please call 510-535-4884," and the Animal Control Division page gives the same number for barking; but the City's nuisance guide sends barking dogs to Oakland Animal Services at a non-emergency number of (510) 535-5602 ((510) 777-3333 for emergencies), so the City's pages disagree on the number. OAK 311 (311 or (510) 615-5566, or the OAK 311 app) handles nuisances on public property. Enforcement under Sec. 8.18.010 D is warning-first: the investigating official issues a written or verbal warning, and the responsible person is guilty of a violation if the noise persists more than 15 minutes after it or recurs within a week; a ten-minute "excessive noise" period need not be witnessed by enforcement personnel if occupants of two or more separate housing or commercial units certify it and describe the source. Chapter 8.18 and Chapter 12.56 violations are infractions (1.28.020, 12.56.110); each day of a Chapter 8.18 violation is a separate offense (8.18.010 F), administrative citations and civil penalties are also available (8.18.010 E), and Chapter 12.56 is enforced by the Oakland Police Department.

Step by step, with what to log and what to expect after you file: how to file a noise complaint in Oakland. 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) The numbers and the complaint offense live in two different codes: the decibel tables are zoning performance standards in the Planning Code (17.120.050), measured on the receiving property, while the everyday nuisance offense is in Municipal Code Chapter 8.18 and needs no meter. Sec. 8.18.010 C.11 sends construction, refrigeration, air conditioning, compressor, exhaust and other commercial or industrial noise to the Planning Code standards. (2) There is no single night: 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. for persistent noise (8.18.020), 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for power tools and loading (8.18.010 C.8, C.9), 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. in the decibel table, and no amplified-sound permits for 10 p.m. to 9:30 a.m. (12.56.030 A). (3) Enforcement is warning-first (8.18.010 D): the violation is the noise continuing more than 15 minutes after a warning or recurring within a week. (4) Two neighbors can make the case: an "excessive noise" period need not be witnessed by an officer if occupants of two or more separate units certify it and describe the source (8.18.010 B). (5) Sec. 12.56.030 B says no amplified-sound permit shall issue for operation in areas the zoning ordinance designates as residential districts; a separate carve-out lets the City issue up to ten permits a year for amplified sound until 11 p.m. at Coliseum events, until January 1, 2027 (12.56.030 E, Ord. 13780, 2024). (6) Leaf blowers and string trimmers powered by a combustion engine (gasoline or other fuel) are banned outright, in public or private settings (Chapter 8.64, Ord. 13616, 2020); each violation beyond three in a three-year period is a major violation with a civil penalty of up to $1,000. (7) Activities that existed before the zoning standards took effect need not change their operations to meet them, though they may not become more nonconforming (17.120.020). (8) Pile drivers and jackhammers are barred on Sundays and holidays "except for emergencies and as approved in advance by the Building Official" (8.18.020 E). (9) The City's construction-noise web page is a simplification: its table says building construction has "No restrictions on hours" and cites the grading-hours rule as 15.04.3.2065, a number that now holds an unrelated footing rule (CBC Section 1809.3, Ord. 13861, 2025); the grading hours now sit in 15.04.3.2075, and the page's 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., "70 dB for five minutes" note does not reproduce the construction table in 17.120.050 G. (10) Exceptions in 8.18.030 cover band music or announcing on public streets under a special permit from the Chief of Police, traffic warning signals, licensed peddlers in an ordinary tone of voice, and public celebrations on public holidays. (11) Sound-amplifying equipment on aircraft over the city is banned outright (8.18.100). (12) In parks, amplified sound audible at 50 feet needs a permit, no loudspeaker may be within 300 feet of a residence, and permitted sound may not exceed 80 decibels at the park boundary, though Estuary Park and the Duck Pond Stage area of Lakeside Park can be exempted on the Director's findings (12.64.120).

Document it before you report it

Oakland'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 Oakland noise map. For time-stamped measurement history you can show a landlord or code officer, the app keeps a log.