Long Beach's Noise from Specific Sources: The Rules That Matter
Every city handles noise from specific sources a little differently. In Long Beach, California, there are 5 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.
Bar & Nightclub Noise
Long Beach caps sound in bars, nightclubs and other places of public entertainment on a sliding duration/decibel scale and requires a posted hearing-impairment warning sign wherever the venue exceeds those levels.
Key details: 8-hour limit: 85 dBA. Quarter-hour ceiling: 100 dBA. Compliance alternative: Post hearing-impairment warning sign. Measurement point: Location normally occupied by customer. Max penalty: $500 fine / 180 days jail.
Operating without the required warning sign while exceeding Table D levels is chargeable as a misdemeanor under § 8.80.380 once the Noise Control Officer documents the violation and the venue fails to comply with an abatement order: up to $500 in fines, up to 180 days in jail, or both, with each day of continued noncompliance a separate offense.
Generator Noise
Long Beach requires any motor, machinery or pump, including portable generators, to be sufficiently enclosed or muffled so it does not create a noise disturbance, on top of the citywide 10 p.m.–7 a.m. quiet hours for power tools.
Key details: Muffling duty: Applies at all hours, not just nighttime. Covered equipment: Motor, machinery, pump, etc.. Nighttime tool ban: 10 p.m.–7 a.m. across residential lines. Enforcing office: Noise Control Office. Max penalty: $500 fine / 180 days jail.
An unmuffled or poorly maintained generator that keeps creating a documented disturbance can draw an abatement order from the Noise Control Officer; ignoring that order is a misdemeanor under § 8.80.380, carrying a fine up to $500, up to 180 days in jail, or both, with each additional day of noncompliance charged separately.
HVAC & Mechanical Noise
Long Beach sets fixed decibel ceilings for air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment measured at the neighboring property line, patio and window, with older units (pre-1980) allowed 5 dBA more than units installed since.
Key details: Pre-1980 unit limit: 60 dBA at property line. Post-1980 unit limit: 55 dBA at property line. Patio/window limit (post-1980): 50 dBA. Measurement standard: ASHRAE Code of Recommended Practices. Max penalty: $500 fine / 180 days jail.
A homeowner or contractor operating noncompliant HVAC equipment that keeps exceeding these dBA limits after a Noise Control Officer abatement order faces a misdemeanor under § 8.80.380, up to $500 in fines, up to 180 days in jail, or both, with each day of continued violation punishable as a separate offense.
Car Alarm Limits
Long Beach caps any motor vehicle alarm at 15 minutes of continuous or intermittent sound under Municipal Code § 10.25.010, timed from the first audible emission. A first violation is a $25 infraction; a fourth violation becomes a misdemeanor, and police may enter the vehicle to disconnect the alarm and impound it.
Key details: Time limit: 15 minutes of audible sound. First offense: $25 infraction fine. 4th+ offense: Misdemeanor (after 3 priors). Enforcement: LBPD may enter vehicle, disconnect alarm, tow.
A first offense is a $25 infraction under §10.25.010(C). A fourth violation (after three prior convictions) becomes a misdemeanor under §10.25.010(D), carrying the Code's general misdemeanor penalty of up to a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail under §1.32.010. Police may also enter the vehicle, disconnect the alarm and tow it under §10.25.010(E).
Delivery Truck Noise
Long Beach bans loud loading and unloading of boxes, crates, containers and similar cargo between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. across a residential property line, and prohibits it at any hour if it breaches the city's noise-level tables.
Key details: Restricted hours: 10 p.m.–7 a.m. next day. Trigger: Noise disturbance across residential line. Daytime cap: Must meet §§ 8.80.150/.170 tables. Complaint required: Written sworn complaint from resident. Max penalty: $500 fine / 180 days jail.
Continuing loading or unloading noise after a documented abatement order is a misdemeanor under § 8.80.380, a fine up to $500, up to 180 days in jail, or both, with every additional day of noncompliance charged as a separate offense. The equipment or activity can also be enjoined as a public nuisance under § 8.80.410.
The Bottom Line
Long Beach's noise from specific sources 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 Long Beach is broadly strict or permissive.
This guide is based on Long Beach's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.