Noise ordinances › Stockton, CA

Stockton noise ordinance: quiet hours, limits and complaints

Last updated: October 1, 2026

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Quiet hours in Stockton

There is no single curfew; the clocks are spread across both chapters. The general nuisance rule in 8.20.030 A has none: "the time of the day or night the noise occurs" is one of eleven listed factors. In the Development Code, Table 3-7 Part II defines day as 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and night as 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (16.60.040), and Sec. 16.60.030 makes these violations: construction, demolition, drilling or repair work with tools or equipment on private property between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. "so that the sound creates a noise disturbance across a residential property line" (emergency work of public service utilities excepted); loading and unloading on private property between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in a manner that causes a noise disturbance; refuse collection or compacting in a residential zoning district between 5:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.; and sweepers or blowers on private property in or next to a residential zoning district between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Because "noise disturbance" is defined as a sound that violates an applicable Chapter 16.60 standard (16.240.020), the night construction and loading rules are tied to the Table 3-7 limits rather than to bare audibility. Chapter 8.20 adds a separate window for noncommercial use of power saws, drills, sanders, grinders and lawn or garden tools in residential areas, 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., where it causes a noise disturbance across a residential property boundary (8.20.030 B.7), and makes amplified sound or instruments on streets and rights-of-way next to public parks from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. that is clearly audible beyond 25 feet prima facie evidence of a violation (8.20.030 B.4). Exemptions run on the same day window: activities on parks, playgrounds and school grounds from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (more by the City Manager), minor maintenance of residential property from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and stationary emergency generator testing once in any seven days for up to 30 minutes, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday (16.60.020 C, G, H).

Decibel limits

Yes, in the Development Code. Table 3-7 Part II (16.60.040), "Land Use-Related Noise Standard" for outdoor activity areas: hourly equivalent sound level (Leq) 55 dB by day (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) and 45 dB at night (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.); maximum sound level (Lmax) 75 dB by day and 65 dB at night. Note (1) applies the standard at the property line of the receiving land use (and, when judging mitigation, on the receiving side of any noise barrier), and Note (2) lowers each standard by five for impulse noise, simple tone noise, or noise consisting primarily of speech or music, which puts music at 50 / 70 by day and 40 / 60 at night. Table 3-7 Part I sets transportation noise for new noise-sensitive uses at 65 dB Ldn outdoors (residential types, live-work, lodging, multi-use) and 45 dB Ldn indoors. Between non-residential districts: commercial sources may not exceed Lmax 75 dB or Leq 65 dB at the property line of an adjoining retail commercial district; industrial and public-facility sources Lmax 80 dB and Leq 70 dB at an adjoining IL, IG, PT or PF district (commercial levels where they abut retail commercial); and commercial, industrial or public-facility uses next to noise-sensitive uses or vacant residential or open-space districts must meet Part II (16.60.040 B.2). Other figures: refuse compactors 85 dBA at 50 feet (16.60.030 E.1); stationary emergency generators enclosed and never above 76 Lmax dBA at 23 feet (16.60.020 H.2.c). Sec. 16.60.040 opens by applying its provisions "to all uses and properties," although most of its subsections are written for proposed, new or expanded projects; 16.60.030 G applies the Table 3-7 standards to vehicle and motorboat repair and testing across the property line of a noise-sensitive use. The Code Enforcement Officer makes the noise-level measurements (16.60.080); the glossary defines the A-weighted level, Leq, Ldn and maximum sound level (16.240.020). Chapter 8.20 defines sound level as A-weighted with "fast" time averaging (8.20.020) but states that its nuisance rules may be enforced without any measurement, so a party or stereo can be cited on the reasonable-person test alone.

What the ordinance actually says

Sec. 8.20.030 A.1: "Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, and in addition thereto, it is unlawful for any person to willfully make or continue or permit or cause to be made or continued, any loud, unnecessary, or unusual noise which unreasonably 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."

Sec. 8.20.030: "The following special noise restrictions are hereby established without regard to their sound level impact and may be enforced without the prerequisite of a sound level measurement."

Sec. 8.20.030 B.4: "It is hereby found and declared as a matter of legislative policy that the operation of the aforesaid equipment or instruments on the public streets and rights-of-way adjacent to public parks during the hours from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., in such a manner as to be clearly audible for a distance in excess of 25 feet constitutes prima facie evidence of a violation of this section."

Sec. 8.20.030 B.7: "It is unlawful to operate or to permit the noncommercial operation of any mechanically powered saw, drill, sander, grinder, lawn or garden tool, or similar device, in residential areas during the hours from 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. so as to cause a noise disturbance across a residential real property boundary."

Sec. 16.60.030 A: "Construction Noise. Operating or causing the operation of tools or equipment on private property used in alteration, construction, demolition, drilling, or repair work between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., so that the sound creates a noise disturbance across a residential property line, except for emergency work of public service utilities."

Sec. 16.60.040, Table 3-7, Part II, Notes (the table itself sets, for outdoor activity areas, Leq 55 dB by day (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) and 45 dB at night (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.), and Lmax 75 and 65 dB): "(1) The noise standard shall be applied at the property line of the receiving land use." "(2) Each of the noise level standards specified shall be decreased by five for impulse noise, simple tone noise, or noise consisting primarily of speech or music."

Sec. 16.240.020 (Noise, definition 15): "Noise Disturbance. An alleged intrusive sound that violates an applicable noise standard of Chapter 16.60."

Sec. 8.20.050 A: "Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, unless otherwise specified, and upon conviction thereof shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $500.00, or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment."

Quoted verbatim from the official codified text (Stockton Municipal Code, Title 8 "Health and Safety," Chapter 8.20 "Noise Regulations": 8.20.010 findings (Prior code § 5-700), 8.20.020 definitions (§ 5-701), 8.20.030 public nuisance noise (Prior code § 5-702; Ord. 007-07 C.S. § 4), 8.20.040 animal noise (§ 5-703), 8.20.050 violations (§ 5-704); Title 16 "Development Code," Chapter 16.60 "Noise Standards" (ecode360.com/43713726): 16.60.010 purpose (Ord. 2020-12-01-1502 C.S. § 18), 16.60.020 exempt activities (Ord. 2020-06-09-1501 C.S. § 15), 16.60.030 activities deemed violations, 16.60.040 standards and Table 3-7 (Ord. 023-07 C.S. § 41), 16.60.050 acoustical study (Ord. 023-07 C.S. § 42), 16.60.060 evaluation of proposed projects, 16.60.070 mitigation, 16.60.080 enforcement; the noise definitions under "Noise" in 16.240.020 (including "Noise Disturbance"); Chapter 9.40, Secs. 9.40.040 and 9.40.050 (noise at public libraries, community centers, recreation facilities and school property). The code as posted includes legislation through Ord. No. 2026-07-07-0902-02 adopted July 7, 2026, and the host listed no adopted-but-uncodified laws. Text read on eCode360 (General Code, 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 Stockton

The City pages read for this row, all on stocktonca.gov, are the Police Department "Contact Us" page, the Code Enforcement page and the Animal Services "Animal Related Complaints" page; none is specific to noise. Police: Emergency 9-1-1; Stockton Police Department Non-Emergency (209) 937-8377. Code enforcement is the Police Department's Neighborhood Services Section: "To report a violation call (209) 937-8813 or Email NSS@stocktonca.gov or Submit a request using Ask Stockton" (office hours Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m., with Friday hours that vary); the Code Enforcement page says anonymous complaints are not accepted and the complainant's name is kept confidential. Barking and other animal noise go to Animal Services, which asks for complaints online through the "Animals - other" option; for a continuing problem already reported, residents fill in the City's formal noise/barking packet and email it to AnimalServices@stocktonca.gov with the address of the noise. Sec. 16.60.080 assigns enforcement of Chapter 16.60 to a Code Enforcement Officer or Police Officer, with the Code Enforcement Officer making the measurements. Penalties: a Chapter 8.20 violation is a misdemeanor unless otherwise specified, up to $500 and/or six months (8.20.050 A), and the 50-foot vehicle and bicycle audio rule is an infraction (8.20.030 B.5); device noise that annoys reasonable neighbors is also declared a public nuisance that a court may enjoin (8.20.050 B).

Step by step, with what to log and what to expect after you file: how to file a noise complaint in Stockton. 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) Two chapters, two tests: Chapter 8.20 (Health and Safety) is a no-meter nuisance law that says outright it can be enforced "without the prerequisite of a sound level measurement," while the decibel table lives in the Development Code's Chapter 16.60, enforced by Code Enforcement with a meter. (2) The term "noise disturbance" is defined only in the Development Code glossary, as a sound that violates a Chapter 16.60 standard, so the night construction, loading and sweeper rules in 16.60.030 turn on the Table 3-7 numbers, not on whether the work can be heard; Chapter 8.20 uses the same phrase in its 9 p.m. power-tool rule without defining it. (3) Table 3-7 is read at the receiving property line, and music, speech, tones and impulse noise get 5 dB less, so amplified music is held to 50 dB Leq by day and 40 at night. (4) Most of 16.60.040 is written for new or expanded projects (mitigation, acoustical studies, CEQA thresholds), though its opening sentence applies the standards "to all uses and properties." (5) Four different clocks: power tools 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. (8.20), construction and loading 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. (16.60), refuse collection in residential zones 5 p.m. to 5 a.m., and minor maintenance of residential property exempt from Chapter 16.60 only from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (16.60.020 G). (6) The distance rules are narrow: 25 feet applies only on streets and rights-of-way next to public parks between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and only as prima facie evidence; the 50-foot rule for audio in or on a vehicle or bicycle is framed as a traffic-safety rule and is an infraction rather than a misdemeanor; drums or instruments clearly audible beyond 50 feet on streets, rights-of-way or parks need a special event permit (8.20.030 B.3). (7) Burglar alarms are not a violation until 20 minutes of continuous sounding (8.20.030 B.1.b). (8) Animal noise is presumed unlawful (prima facie) when two or more residents of separate homes on adjacent property or within 300 feet agree on its times and duration; legally operated kennels and catteries are exempt (8.20.040). (9) Two cross-references do not line up: 16.60.030 D limits stationary nonemergency bells, chimes and sirens to 10 consecutive seconds an hour "as required by Section 8.20.030(B)," but 8.20.030(B) contains no 10-second rule, and 16.60.040 C.1 sends infill interiors to "the indoor space standards in Table 3-7, Part II," which has only outdoor columns (the 45 dB Ldn indoor figure is in Part I). (10) Regulated railroads and activities whose regulation is preempted by state or federal law are exempt from Chapter 16.60 (16.60.020 D, E).

Document it before you report it

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