Pomona's Noise Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles noise ordinances a little differently. In Pomona, California, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Barking Dogs

A Pomona dog that barks, whines, howls or cries "in a continuous or untimely fashion" is a declared public nuisance under City Code Sec. 6-6. The city only issues a written abatement notice after receiving complaints in writing from at least two separate households, and ignoring that notice is a misdemeanor.

Key details: Complaint threshold: Written complaints from 2 separate households. Enforcement agency: Shelter manager / Inland Valley Humane Society. Penalty: Misdemeanor; each day is a separate offense. Related rule: Also barred under noise chapter 18, art. VII.

Maintaining, permitting, or allowing a barking-dog nuisance to continue after written notice from the city is a misdemeanor under Sec. 6-6(d), and each day the nuisance continues is charged as a separate offense. Under Sec. 6-2, any chapter 6 violation is a misdemeanor or an infraction at the discretion of the city attorney or the Los Angeles County district attorney, and the shelter manager may instead issue an administrative citation with fines payable to the Inland Valley Humane Society.

Leaf Blower Rules

Leaf blowers in Pomona fall under the general construction/maintenance noise exemption. Permitted 7 AM-8 PM weekdays and Saturdays; prohibited Sundays and federal holidays. CA AB 1346 phases out gas-powered equipment statewide.

Key details: Permitted Hours: 7 AM - 8 PM (Mon-Sat). Sundays/Holidays: Prohibited. State Law: AB 1346 gas equipment phase-out. Code: Ch. 18, Art. VII noise exemptions.

Violations are enforced by Pomona Police Department and Code Compliance Division. Citations may be issued under PMC Section 1-12 as misdemeanors. Fines and penalties apply per the general enforcement provisions.

Compared to other cities, Pomona takes a harder line on leaf blower rules. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Pomona's noise ordinances rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Pomona is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Pomona's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.