Noise Ordinances in San Jose, CA (2026)
8 verified noise ordinances for San Jose, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
San Jose sets no clock-hour noise curfew. Municipal Code § 10.16.010 bans disturbing or unreasonably loud noise in any neighborhood around the clock, day or night, rather than restricting it to nighttime hours.
San Jose Has No Fixed Quiet Hours
Some RestrictionsSan Jose Municipal Code § 10.16.010
No person shall disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of any neighborhood by creating therein any disturbing or unreasonably loud noise.
Construction Hours
San Jose bars construction activity within 500 feet of a residential unit before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on weekdays, and at any time on weekends, unless a permit expressly allows otherwise.
San Jose Construction Hours Near Homes
Some RestrictionsSan Jose Municipal Code § 20.100.450
Unless otherwise expressly allowed in a development permit or other planning approval, no applicant or agent of an applicant shall suffer or allow any construction activity on a site located within 500 feet of a residential unit before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or at any time on weekends.B.Without limiting the scope of Section 20.100.310, no applicant or agent of an a...
Barking Dogs
San Jose bans letting an animal habitually disturb a neighborhood by barking, howling, crying or baying: it's a declared public nuisance and animal control can seize the animal.
San Jose Barking Dog Nuisance Rule
Some RestrictionsSan Jose Municipal Code § 7.40.010(A)(4)
No owner/guardian or person with a right to control the animal may allow the animal to commit any of the following acts:1.Defecate or urinate on private property other than the private property of the owner/guardian or the person with a right to control the animal.2.Defecate on public property without immediately removing the excrement to a proper receptacle.3.Obstruct the reasonable and comfor...
Leaf Blower Rules
San Jose restricts gas-powered leaf blowers through state-mandated emissions rules and local noise limits. California's AB 1346 phases out sales of new gas-powered small off-road engines, and San Jose enforces noise standards under Municipal Code Title 20 when blowers operate outside daytime hours or exceed residential decibel limits near property lines.
Leaf Blower Rules in San Jose
Some RestrictionsCalifornia AB1346 (2021-2022 Session)
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
San Jose bans amplified sound at outdoor dining and activity areas within 150 feet of homes unless separated by a building or 100 feet including a public street, per Municipal Code § 20.80.895.
San Jose Outdoor Dining Amplified Sound Limits
Significant RestrictionsSan Jose Municipal Code § 20.80.895
For outdoor dining or other outdoor activity area outside of downtown that is within 150 feet of residentially zoned property, no amplified sound is allowed unless the outdoor dining or other outdoor activity area is completely separated from residentially zoned property by a non-residential building or by a minimum distance of one hundred feet that includes a public street with a minimum publi...
Aircraft Noise
San Jose bars jet takeoffs and landings at Mineta San José International Airport between 11:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. unless the jet is listed on the city's schedule of authorized quiet aircraft, with a $2,500 fine per violation.
San Jose Airport Curfew Bans Night Jets
Significant RestrictionsSan Jose Municipal Code § 25.03.300(A)
Except as otherwise expressly authorized herein, all persons shall be prohibited from scheduling and/or conducting a takeoff or a landing using a jet aircraft during curfew hours unless such takeoff or landing is conducted by a jet aircraft that is listed on the schedule of authorized aircraft.B.If a jet aircraft is not listed on the schedule of authorized aircraft, then the aircraft will be al...
Decibel Limits
San Jose caps noise at 55 decibels at the property line in residential zones, rising to 60 dB between commercial parcels and 70 dB between industrial parcels, under the zoning code's performance standards.
San Jose Property-Line Noise Decibel Limits
Some RestrictionsSan Jose Municipal Code § 20.30.700
The sound pressure level generated by any use or combination of uses on a property shall not exceed the decibel levels indicated in Table 20-85 at any property line, except upon issuance and in compliance with a special use permit as provided in Chapter 20.100. Table 20-85 — Maximum Noise Level in Decibels at Property Line: Any residential or non-residential use, 55.
Vehicle Noise
San Jose's noise code names three vehicle sounds as disturbing the peace by definition: misused horns, loud exhaust systems, and revving a parked engine outside of repair work.
San Jose Vehicle Horn, Exhaust & Revving Noise Ban
Some RestrictionsSan Jose Municipal Code § 10.16.020(B)(1)-(3)
1.The sounding of any horn, signal or noise device on any automobile, motorcycle, bus, truck or other vehicle, in any other manner or for any other purpose than allowed by the California Vehicle Code or other laws of the state;2.The noise from an exhaust system of any vehicle which is not equipped or constructed so as to prevent any disturbing or unreasonably loud noise;3.The revving of the eng...
Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Jose city rules.
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