Noise Ordinances in Berkeley, CA (2026)
5 verified noise ordinances for Berkeley, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Construction Hours
Construction and demolition work in Berkeley is barred before 7 a.m. and after 7 p.m. on weekdays, and before 9 a.m. or after 8 p.m. on weekends and holidays, if the noise crosses a property line above code limits. Mobile equipment also faces separate dBA ceilings by zone.
Berkeley Construction Noise Hours
Some RestrictionsBerkeley Municipal Code § 13.40.070(B)(7)(a)
(a) Operating or causing the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling, repair, alteration, or demolition work before 7:00 a.m. on a weekday (or before 9:00 a.m. on a weekend or holiday) or after 7:00 p.m. on a weekday (or after 8:00 p.m. on a weekend or holiday) such that the sound therefrom across a residential or commercial real property line violates Section 13.40.0...
Barking Dogs
BMC 13.40.070(B)(5) makes it a violation to keep an animal whose frequent or long noise annoys two or more neighbors in separate residences, with 10 continuous or 30 intermittent minutes of barking counted as automatic proof of the disturbance.
Berkeley Barking Dog Noise Rule
Some RestrictionsBerkeley Municipal Code § 13.40.070(B)(5)
Animals. Keeping or maintaining, or permitting to be kept or maintained, upon any premises owned, occupied, or controlled by any person of any animal or animals, which by any frequent or long continued noise shall cause annoyance or discomfort to two or more reasonable persons of normal sensitiveness who reside in separate residences (including apartments and condominiums). However, a NCO or th...
Leaf Blower Rules
Berkeley bans gasoline-powered leaf blowers citywide for both residents and commercial landscapers, aligned with California AB 1346 phase-out of small off-road gas engines.
Gas Leaf Blower Ban
Significant RestrictionsCalifornia AB 1346 (2021) — Health and Safety Code § 43018.11 (zero-emission small off-road engines)
43018.11. (a) (1) By July 1, 2022, the state board shall, consistent with federal law, adopt cost-effective and technologically feasible regulations to prohibit engine exhaust and evaporative emissions from new small off-road engines, as defined by the state board. Those regulations shall apply to engines produced on or after January 1, 2024, or as soon as the state board determines is feasible...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Outdoor amplified music or speech in Berkeley needs an Environmental Health Division permit, capped at 65 dBA at the exterior of any residence and generally limited to 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Private-property use also maxes out at four hours in any 24-hour period.
Berkeley Amplified Sound Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsBerkeley Municipal Code § 13.40.100
A. Applications. Any person(s) or organization(s) wishing to use amplified sound outdoors for an event must obtain a permit for the amplified sound from the EHD. ... B.2. Sound amplification equipment on private property shall not be utilized in any location for a period in excess of 4 hours in any 24-hour period; 3. Sound amplifying equipment when associated with an approved event permit shall...
Decibel Limits
Berkeley caps noise crossing into a neighboring multi-family unit at 40 dBA overnight and 45 dBA during the day under BMC 13.40.060, measured with graduated exceedance rules that scale allowed decibel overages against how long the sound lasts.
Berkeley Interior Apartment Noise Limits
Some RestrictionsBerkeley Municipal Code § 13.40.060
Maximum Permissible Dwelling Interior Sound Levels. The interior noise standards for multi-family residential dwellings as presented in Table 13.40-2 shall apply, unless otherwise specifically indicated in other codes, within all such dwellings with windows in their normal seasonal configuration... All: 10:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m.: 40 [dBA]; 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.: 45 [dBA]... No person shall operat...
Looking for Alameda County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Berkeley city rules.
Noise Ordinances in Alameda County →