Noise Ordinances in Santa Clara, CA (2026)
5 verified noise ordinances for Santa Clara, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Santa Clara bans loud and unreasonable noise between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM under City Code § 9.05.010(c), whether it disturbs anyone within earshot or happens within 250 feet of a building used for sleeping, and the rule reaches private property, not just public streets. Fines escalate from $150 to $900 for repeat violations within a year.
Santa Clara Nighttime Noise Curfew Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Clara, CA, City Code § 9.05.010(c)
To, between the hours of 10:00 P.M. and 7:00 A.M., make, cause, suffer or permit to be made any loud and unreasonable noise (1) which is made within two hundred fifty (250) feet of any building or place regularly used for sleeping purposes, or (2) which disturbs, or would tend to disturb, any person within hearing distance of such noise. This subsection (c) applies to activities on private prop...
Construction Hours
Santa Clara bars construction work within 300 feet of residentially zoned property outside 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays. No construction work is allowed at all on Sundays or on the eight City-recognized holidays.
Santa Clara Construction Noise Hours
Some RestrictionsSanta Clara, CA, City Code § 9.10.230
No person shall engage or authorize others to engage in construction of any building or related road or walkway, pool or landscape improvement, or in construction operations related thereto, including delivery of construction materials, supplies, or improvements on or to a construction site within three hundred (300) feet of any residentially zoned property except within the hours of 7:00 A.M. ...
Barking Dogs
Santa Clara makes it unlawful under Municipal Code § 6.30.130 to keep a dog that disturbs the peace of the immediate neighborhood with loud barking, howling or baying at frequent or extended periods, day or night. The rule expressly does not cover barking while a dog is protecting or resisting a trespasser, but the owner carries the burden of proving that defense applies.
Santa Clara Barking Dog Nuisance Rule
Some RestrictionsSanta Clara, CA, Municipal Code § 6.30.130 (Barking dogs)
It shall be unlawful for any person to harbor, keep or maintain any dog in the City which disturbs the peace and quiet of one or more persons in the immediate neighborhood by loud barking or making unusual noises. "Loud barking" means barking, howling or baying by day or night at frequent and/or extended periods of time so as to be a nuisance to one or more persons occupying a house or houses i...
Leaf Blower Rules
Santa Clara restricts leaf blower operation to 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM weekdays and 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekends, with gas-powered models phased out under California AB 1346 (SORE regulation) effective 2024.
Santa Clara Leaf Blower Rules
Some RestrictionsCalifornia AB 1346 (2021) — Health and Safety Code § 43018.11 (Small Off-Road Engines — Zero-Emission)
(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, whicheve...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Santa Clara City Code § 9.05.060 makes it unlawful to run any outdoor sound system or project amplified music, including a live band, for more than five minutes in any single day without a valid amplified sound permit. The same five-minute cap and permit rule covers non-music amplified sound projected outdoors or from a vehicle.
Santa Clara Amplified Sound Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsSanta Clara, CA, City Code § 9.05.060(b)
Outdoor Amplification of Music. Except in accordance with the terms and conditions of a valid permit issued pursuant to this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate any sound system outdoors or to cause amplified music, including music from a live performance, to be projected outdoors in the City for a period of more than five minutes in any one day for any purpose. Outdoor Ampl...
Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Clara city rules.
Noise Ordinances in Santa Clara County →