Noise Ordinances in Los Angeles, CA (2026)
8 verified noise ordinances for Los Angeles, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
LA prohibits willfully making loud, unnecessary, or unusual noise that disturbs neighborhood peace at any hour. Nighttime standards (10 pm–7 am) are stricter under the ambient noise table, and LAMC § 116.01 lists 11 factors enforcement officers may consider.
Noise: Quiet Hours
Some RestrictionsLAMC § 116.01; LAMC § 111.03
SEC. 116.01. LOUD, UNNECESSARY AND UNUSUAL NOISE. Notwithstanding any other provisions 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, and unusual noise which disturbs the peace or quiet of any neighborhood or which causes discomfort or annoyance to any reasonable person of n...
Construction Hours
Between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., powered construction and industrial machinery in or near an LA residential zone may not exceed 75 dB(A) at 50 feet, and equipment meant for repetitive residential use, lawn mowers, backpack blowers, is capped even lower at 65 dB(A), under LAMC § 112.05. Construction noise timing itself is separately governed by § 41.40.
LA Construction Equipment Noise Decibel Limits
Some RestrictionsLos Angeles Municipal Code § 112.05
SEC. 112.05. MAXIMUM NOISE LEVEL OF POWERED EQUIPMENT OR POWERED HAND TOOLS. Between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., in any residential zone of the City or within 500 feet thereof, no person shall operate or cause to be operated any powered equipment or powered hand tool that produces a maximum noise level exceeding the following noise limits at a distance of 50 feet therefrom: (a) 75 dB...
Barking Dogs
Los Angeles prohibits dog owners from allowing excessive barking after a written notice from the Department of Animal Services, using a formal two-complaint process that can lead to a hearing and license revocation.
Noise: Barking Dogs
Some RestrictionsLAMC § 53.63
It shall be unlawful for any person (hereinafter in this section referred to as the owner) to permit any dog or dogs under the person's charge, care, custody or control to emit any excessive noise after the Department has issued a written notice to the owner of the dog or dogs emitting the alleged excessive noise and after the procedures as set forth below have been followed. For purposes of th...
Leaf Blower Rules
Gas-powered leaf blowers are banned within 500 feet of any residence under LAMC 112.04(c). Electric blowers are permitted but restricted to 7 AM-10 PM in residential zones. The ban has been on the books since 1998 though enforcement has historically been limited.
Los Angeles Gas Leaf Blower Ban
Significant RestrictionsAB 1346 (2021) — Health & Safety Code Sec. 43018.11 (Small Off-Road Engine Emissions, covering gas leaf blowers)
SEC. 2. Section 43018.11 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read: 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 a...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Playing music or operating radios so that sound is audible beyond 150 feet from the property line in or within 500 feet of a residential zone is unlawful. Music that exceeds a neighbor's ambient noise level by more than 5 dB is also a violation, regardless of zone.
Noise: Outdoor Music
Some RestrictionsLAMC § 112.01
SEC. 112.01. RADIOS, TELEVISION SETS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES. (Amended by Ord. No. 156,363, Eff. 3/29/82.) (a) It shall be unlawful for any person within any zone of the City to use or operate any radio, musical instrument, phonograph, television receiver, or other machine or device for the producing, reproducing or amplification of the human voice, music, or any other sound, in such a manner,...
Aircraft Noise
Helicopter landings and takeoffs in Los Angeles require a Fire Department permit in most zones, are limited to 3 per day per location by default, and are prohibited entirely in RA, R, C1, and CR zones except for up to 2 LAPD- or LAUSD-sponsored educational events per calendar year.
Noise Sources: Helicopter Noise
Some RestrictionsLAMC § 12.22 A.6
6. Infrequent Helicopter Landings. (Amended by Ord. No. 150,623, Eff. 4/13/78.) Notwithstanding any provision of this article to the contrary, helicopters may land and take off in any zone except RA, R, C1 and CR Zones, provided that a permit therefore has first been obtained from the Fire Department under the provisions of Division 5, Article 7 of Chapter 5 of this Code. Such helicopter landin...
Decibel Limits
New residential and lodging buildings must be designed so interior noise from exterior sources does not exceed 45 dB. Buildings near airports or highways with more than 60 dB CNEL/Ldn require an acoustical analysis demonstrating compliance.
Noise: Decibel Limits
Some RestrictionsLAMC §§ 91.1206.14.2 and 91.1206.14.3
91.1206.14.2. Allowable Interior Noise Levels. Interior noise levels attributable to exterior sources shall not exceed 45 db in any habitable room. The noise metric shall be either the day-night average sound level (Ldn) or the community noise equivalent level (CNEL), consistent with the noise element of the local general plan. Note: Ldn is the preferred metric for implementing these standa...
Vehicle Noise
Large commercial vehicles (6+ tires, over 10,000 lbs empty) may not run their engines in a way that disturbs people sleeping in nearby residences while parked on a public street before 6:30 a.m.
Noise: Vehicle Noise
Some RestrictionsLAMC § 80.36.3
No person shall cause the engine of a commercial vehicle with at least six tires, and a gross weight of more than 10,000 pounds empty, to operate to the disturbance of persons occupying sleeping quarters in any dwelling hotel or apartment or other place of residence while parked or standing on a public street earlier than 6:30 A.M. EXCEPTIONS: The provisions of this section shall not ap...
Looking for Los Angeles County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Los Angeles city rules.
Noise Ordinances in Los Angeles County →