Noise ordinances › Pasadena, CA

Pasadena noise ordinance: quiet hours, limits and complaints

Last updated: October 30, 2026

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Quiet hours in Pasadena

In any residential zone, radios, musical instruments, phonographs, television sets and other devices that produce or reproduce sound may not be used between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. so as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of neighboring residents or any reasonable person of normal sensitiveness residing in the area, and a level more than 5 decibels above the ambient base level at the property line is prima facie evidence of a violation (9.36.110). Inside multifamily residential property the limit drops from 60 dBA (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) to 50 dBA (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) (9.36.060). Repairing, rebuilding or testing a motor vehicle in a residential area is barred between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. when it causes a reasonable person discomfort or annoyance (9.36.100.A). Construction: pile drivers, power shovels, pneumatic hammers, derrick power hoists, forklifts, cement mixers and similar construction equipment within a residential district or within 500 feet of one may run only from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, and not on Sundays and holidays (9.36.070.A); construction or repair work in the same area that causes a reasonable person discomfort or annoyance has the same hours (9.36.070.B). The holidays are New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lincoln's Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas (9.36.070.E). Leaf blowers in a residential area or within 500 feet of one: only from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, and never on Sunday (9.37.030.A, B); gas-powered leaf blowers may not be used at any time (9.37.030.G). Amplified sound on streets, sidewalks, parks and other public property: only from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day except Sundays and legal holidays; on Sundays and legal holidays commercial use is barred and noncommercial use may run only from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., "except New Year's Day" (9.36.160.E.2). In Old Pasadena, commercial amplified entertainment is limited to 6:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. of the following day (9.36.160.F.4). The general 5-decibel rule and the disturbance rule (9.36.050) have no time band and apply at all hours; the duration allowances in 9.36.040 apply only in the daytime, defined there as 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Decibel limits

Yes, mostly measured against the ambient level. Every reading is taken with a sound level meter using the A weighting (9.36.040.B) and slow response (9.36.030.J). The ambient noise level is the actual measured level (9.36.040.A), averaged over 15 minutes without noise from isolated identifiable sources and without occasional or transient sources (9.36.030.A). General rule: no noise or sound may exceed the ambient noise level at the property line of any property by more than 5 decibels (9.36.050.A); the same 5-decibel test applies to machinery, equipment, pumps, fans, air conditioning and similar mechanical devices, except in emergency work (9.36.090), and marks a prima facie violation for sound devices in residential zones at night (9.36.110.B). Adjustments added to the measured level (9.36.040.B.1): plus 5 for any steady audible tone (except from electrical transformers or gas metering and pressure control equipment installed before the ordinance took effect), plus 5 for repeated impulsive noise, and, in the daytime (6 a.m. to 11 p.m.) only, minus 5 for noise occurring more than 5 but less than 15 minutes per hour, minus 10 for more than 1 but less than 5 minutes per hour, and minus 20 for less than 1 minute per hour (9.36.040.B.2). Multifamily interior standard (9.36.060, Table No. 1): 60 dBA from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 50 dBA from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., measured inside any dwelling unit on the same property or 20 feet from the outside of the unit where the noise source is. Construction equipment: no powered construction equipment may emit noise in excess of 85 dBA measured within a radius of 100 feet (9.36.080). Leaf blowers: the code makes it unlawful "to operate a leaf blower with a maximum noise level of 65 decibels when measured from a distance of 50 feet" (9.37.030.F). Amplified sound on public property may not continuously exceed 15 decibels above the ambient level measured at the outside property line where the event is held (9.36.160.E.3). In Old Pasadena, the ambient level is fixed at 60 decibels from 6:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. and 50 decibels from 1:30 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., and amplified music on private property may not exceed 15 decibels above it (9.36.160.F.2, F.3). Rules with no meter reading: the reasonable-person disturbance test (9.36.050.B), sound devices in residential zones at night (9.36.110.A), vehicle repair and vehicle operation (9.36.100), construction or repair work that annoys (9.36.070.B), noise near schools, hospitals and churches (9.36.120) and animals and fowl (9.36.150).

What the ordinance actually says

§ 9.36.050.A: "It is unlawful for any person to create, cause, make or continue to make or permit to be made or continued any noise or sound which exceeds the ambient noise level at the property line of any property by more than 5 decibels."

§ 9.36.050.B: "Notwithstanding any other provision 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 or 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."

§ 9.36.110.A: "It is unlawful for any person within any residential zone of the city to use or operate any radio receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph, television set or other machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound (between the hours of 10 p.m. of one day and 7 a.m. of the following day) in such a manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of neighboring residents or any reasonable person of normal sensitiveness residing in the area."

§ 9.36.060: "It is unlawful for any person to produce, suffer or allow to be produced on any multifamily residential property, sounds at a level in excess of those enumerated in Table No. 1 when measured inside any dwelling unit on the same property or twenty (20) feet from the outside of the dwelling unit in which the noise source or sources may be located."

§ 9.36.070.A: "No person shall operate any pile driver, power shovel, pneumatic hammer, derrick power hoist, forklift, cement mixer or any other similar construction equipment within a residential district or within a radius of 500 feet therefrom at any time other than as listed below:"

§ 9.36.080: "It is unlawful for any person to operate any powered construction equipment if the operation of such equipment emits noise at a level in excess of 85 dBA when measured within a radius of 100 feet from such equipment."

§ 9.37.030.G: "Commencing February 28, 2023, it is unlawful for the city, and commencing April 28, 2023, it is unlawful for any person to operate or authorize the operation of a gas-powered leaf blower at any time for any purpose."

§ 9.36.190.A: "It shall be unlawful and a public nuisance for any person to violate the provisions of this chapter, punishable as a misdemeanor."

Quoted verbatim from the official codified text (Pasadena Code of Ordinances, Title 9, Article IV "Offenses Against Public Peace": Chapter 9.36, Noise Restrictions (the "noise restrictions ordinance.", 9.36.010), §§ 9.36.010 to 9.36.190: 9.36.030 definitions, 9.36.040 ambient noise level, 9.36.050 general noise sources, 9.36.060 interior noise standard for multifamily residential property, 9.36.070 construction projects, 9.36.080 construction equipment, 9.36.090 machinery, equipment, fans and air conditioning, 9.36.100 motor driven vehicles and vehicle repairs, 9.36.110 radio, television sets and similar devices, 9.36.120 near schools, hospitals and churches, 9.36.150 animals and fowl, 9.36.160 amplified sound on public property, 9.36.170 exemptions, 9.36.180 enforcement responsibility, 9.36.190 violation and penalty (each Ord. 7150 § 2, 2008); the chapter is marked "Amended by Ordinance No. 7436", which, adopted October 28, 2024, repealed 9.36.130 (hawkers and peddlers) and 9.36.140 (drums), both now Reserved. Chapter 9.37, Leaf-Blowing Machines, §§ 9.37.010 to 9.37.060 (Ord. 6227, 1987; Ord. 6845, 2000; 9.37.030 also Ord. No. 7389, § 1, 4-25-2022). Chapter 9.43, Fees for Second or Subsequent Response to Provide Police Services at Parties, Gatherings or Events, §§ 9.43.010 to 9.43.050 (Ord. 6604, 1994). Text read on Municode, the City's code host, on 2026-10-30, when it showed Supplement 79, online content updated September 2, 2026.). Verified against the live code on 2026-10-30. 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 Pasadena

For loud music, noisy neighbors and other noise disturbances, call the Pasadena Police Department's non-emergency line, (626) 744-4241, and 911 for an emergency. The City's Code Compliance "File a Complaint" page says "The Code Compliance Division does not inspect loud music or noisy neighbor complaints." and "If you experience a noise disturbance please contact the Pasadena Police Department, non-emergency line 626-744-4241." The Police Department's contact page lists "Non-Emergency Response: (626) 744-4241" and "General Contact Number: (626) 744-4501" and says "Call 9-1-1 for Emergency Responses". For gas-powered leaf blowers, the City's ban page, under "For Questions or to Report Violations", says to call Code Compliance at (626) 744-8633; the Code Compliance complaint page adds that code compliance issues can be submitted online through the City Service Center, https://www.cityofpasadena.net/city-service-center/, or by phone at 626-744-7311, Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The code itself gives enforcement of Chapter 9.37 to the public health department (9.37.060), and the chapter states no penalty of its own. Under the code, the manager of the environmental health division has primary responsibility for enforcing the noise chapter (9.36.180), but the Public Health Department's Environmental Health page, (626) 744-6004, lists complaints about sanitation, smoking, lead hazards and bed bugs and does not mention noise. Penalty: violating Chapter 9.36 is a public nuisance punishable as a misdemeanor, and the City may also bring a civil action to abate it (9.36.190); the chapter states no fine amount. When police must respond more than once within 12 hours to a party, gathering or event of three or more people at the same location, the person responsible is billed for the police services on the second and later responses (9.43.010, 9.43.020); when such repeat responses are needed more than two times in a calendar year at the same location, the police chief reports them to the city attorney, who mails the property owner a notice, and from ten days after the mailing the owner is liable for the cost of any police response to a party there, first or later, for one year (9.43.030). Sources: https://www.cityofpasadena.net/planning/code-compliance/file-a-complaint/, https://www.cityofpasadena.net/police/contact/, https://www.cityofpasadena.net/planning/gas-powered-leaf-blower-ban/ and https://www.cityofpasadena.net/public-health/environmental-health/.

Step by step, with what to log and what to expect after you file: how to file a noise complaint in Pasadena. 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 general limit is relative, not a fixed number: noise may not rise more than 5 decibels above the measured ambient level at the property line (9.36.050.A). Before the comparison, 5 is added for a steady tone or repeated impulsive noise, and in the daytime (6 a.m. to 11 p.m.) 5 is subtracted for noise lasting more than 5 but less than 15 minutes in an hour, 10 for more than 1 but less than 5 minutes, and 20 for less than 1 minute (9.36.040.B), so short daytime noise gets more room than steady or tonal noise. (2) The multifamily interior standard protects units "on the same property" and may also be measured 20 feet from the outside of the unit the noise comes from (9.36.060). (3) Construction hours apply only within a residential district or within 500 feet of one (9.36.070.A, B). The Sunday and holiday ban on construction or repair work in 9.36.070.B does not apply when the owner or lessor does the work with no more than two helpers, or when the builder has given the building official a petition, with a fee, showing the consent of 65 percent of the households within 500 feet and of every adjacent household (9.36.070.C); that exception is written for subsection B, not for the heavy-equipment hours in subsection A. Emergency work is exempt (9.36.070.D). The holiday list includes Lincoln's Birthday and the day after Thanksgiving (9.36.070.E). (4) Leaf blowers (Chapter 9.37): since April 28, 2023 no one may operate or authorize a gas-powered leaf blower at any time (for City operations, since February 28, 2023), and the person responsible for a violation is limited to the landscape business owner, or the homeowner using their own gas blower; the exceptions are emergency responders and clearing downed trees or vegetation when authorized by the City (9.37.030.G). Electric blowers keep the day and hour limits, one blower per parcel, at most 15 minutes per hour on a parcel of less than half an acre and 30 minutes per hour on a larger one, and no blowing debris onto neighboring property or the public right-of-way to stay there more than 15 minutes (9.37.030.A to E); sidewalks and streets next to residential property count as a residential area (9.37.020.C); and a blower must be certified each year by the public health department and carry its sticker, and the person using it must have a certificate of compliance on file with the health department (9.37.040, 9.37.050). The noise clause reads literally as a ban on a blower "with a maximum noise level of 65 decibels" at 50 feet (9.37.030.F). (5) The City's ban page also says the City "amended the temporary leaf blower ban" to allow power air blowers and air propelling devices outside the 2025 Eaton Fire perimeter and at least 50 feet from any fire damaged structure; the codified Chapter 9.37 shows no temporary rule, and the page names no end date or legal instrument. (6) Exempt (9.36.170): construction, maintenance and repair by public agencies or their contractors for emergencies or in the public interest, such as street sweeping, debris and limb removal and utility repairs; and special events permitted by the city manager, and events licensed by the Rose Bowl Operating Company and permitted by the Rose Bowl's general manager, up to the noise levels in the noise element of the city's general plan, with the hours and decibel level stated in the permit or license. (7) Amplified sound on streets, sidewalks, parks and other public property needs a registration statement filed with the director of finance 10 days ahead; commercial use costs $25 per day and noncommercial use is free; only music or the human voice is allowed; and the equipment may not be used within 200 feet of churches, schools, hospitals or city or county buildings without their written consent; a refused registration may be appealed to the city manager within five days (9.36.160.B to E). In Old Pasadena, operators within 500 feet of a functioning church, school or hospital need its written consent first, and any business owner within 300 feet may ask the health officer to mediate a dispute informally (9.36.160.F). (8) Vehicles: the reasonable-person rule for operating motor driven vehicles excludes any vehicle on a public highway, street or right-of-way (9.36.100.B). (9) Ordinance No. 7436 (October 28, 2024) repealed the former rules on hawkers and peddlers (9.36.130) and drums (9.36.140). (10) Noise on a street, sidewalk or public place next to a school or church while it is in use, or next to a hospital, is barred only if it unreasonably interferes with the institution's work or unduly annoys hospital patients, and only where conspicuous signs mark the place (9.36.120); an animal or fowl that annoys a reasonable person of normal sensitiveness in a residential neighborhood is covered (9.36.150). (11) Party response fees (Chapter 9.43): parents or guardians of a minor responsible for the party are jointly and severally liable; appeals go in writing to the city clerk within 10 days of the bill and are limited to how the costs were computed; and the fees do not apply to services protecting First Amendment activity or responding to a felony at the party, though the cost of dispersing the party may still be charged when police also investigate a felony there (9.43.010.B, 9.43.040.B, 9.43.050.A). (12) Agencies have drifted from the code: 9.36.180 makes the environmental health division manager the primary enforcer, while the City's Code Compliance page sends noise disturbances to the Police Department's non-emergency line, and the Environmental Health page does not mention noise.

Document it before you report it

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