Noise Ordinances in Santa Cruz, CA (2026)
8 verified noise ordinances for Santa Cruz, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Santa Cruz prohibits any offensive noise between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. that is made within 100 feet of a building used for sleeping or that disturbs anyone within hearing distance.
Santa Cruz Noise Curfew: 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Some RestrictionsSanta Cruz Municipal Code 9.36.010 (Ord. 2007-02 1, 2007; Ord. 97-05 1, 1997; Ord. 96-23 1, 1996; Ord. 80-29 1, 1980; prior code 4274)
9.36.010 CURFEW - OFFENSIVE NOISE. (a) No person shall between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. make, cause, suffer or permit to be made any offensive noise (1) which is made within one hundred 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. (b) "Offensive noise" means any...
Construction Hours
Construction noise falls under the 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. curfew, so work generally must occur between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.; limited public-works and emergency exceptions allow a 7 a.m. start or night work only with written city authorization.
Construction Noise Limited to 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Some RestrictionsSanta Cruz Municipal Code 9.36.010(c)-(e) (Ord. 2007-02 1, 2007)
(c) Subsection (a) above shall not apply between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. to any person engaged in performance of a contract for public works awarded by the city of Santa Cruz where the director of public works determines that the project has the potential to disrupt traffic and that this disruption could be alleviated by authorizing construction work to commence at 7:00 a.m. or tha...
Barking Dogs
Santa Cruz's noise ordinance expressly names barking or howling dogs as 'offensive noise,' which is prohibited between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. and may be unreasonably disturbing at any hour.
Barking Dogs Named as Prohibited Offensive Noise
Some RestrictionsSanta Cruz Municipal Code 9.36.010(b) (Ord. 2007-02 1, 2007; prior code 4274)
(b) "Offensive noise" means any noise which is loud, boisterous, irritating, penetrating, or unusual, or that is unreasonably distracting in any other manner, such that it is likely to disturb people in the vicinity of such noise, and includes, but is not limited to, noise made by barking or howling dogs, by an individual alone or by a group of people engaged in any business meeting, gathering,...
Leaf Blower Rules
Santa Cruz Code §6.110.030 prohibits property owners from authorizing the operation of any gas-powered leaf blower at any time for any purpose, citywide.
Santa Cruz Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Ban
Heavy RestrictionsSanta Cruz Municipal Code §6.110.030(1)–(2)
It is prohibited for any property owner to authorize the operation of a gas-powered leaf blower at any time for any purpose on the property they own. The property owner shall be the party responsible for any violations of this chapter that occur on their property.
Amplified Music & Events
Sound amplifying equipment may not be used between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., and in designated commercial zones amplified sound on public property that can be heard 125 or more feet away is presumed unreasonably loud.
Amplified Sound Rules (SCMC 9.40 and 9.36)
Some RestrictionsSanta Cruz Municipal Code 9.40.010 and 9.36.020(C), as amended by Ordinance No. 2025-03 (final adoption March 11, 2025)
9.40.010 RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF SOUND AMPLIFYING EQUIPMENT AND SOUND TRUCKS. A. No person shall use or cause to be used any sound amplifying device or equipment at any place in the city, whether on public property or private property, except in accordance with subsection B. B. Sound amplifying equipment and sound trucks: 1. Shall only be used to produce music or human speech, or both; 2. Shall ...
Aircraft Noise
No Santa Cruz-specific ordinance directly regulates aircraft noise in flight; such regulation is federally preempted by the FAA, and California PUC 21669 sets airport noise standards administered by Caltrans.
Aircraft Noise: Federally Preempted; CA State Standards Apply
Few RestrictionsCalifornia Public Utilities Code 21669 (State Aeronautics Act)
21669. The department shall adopt noise standards governing the operation of aircraft and aircraft engines for airports operating under a valid permit issued by the department to an extent not prohibited by federal law. The standards shall be based upon two principal factors: (a) The level of noise acceptable to a reasonable person residing in the vicinity of the airport. (b) The relationship o...
Vehicle Noise
Vehicle noise in Santa Cruz is regulated by California Vehicle Code §27150–27151 (muffler and modification rules) plus local §10.40.270, which limits engine idling on city streets to 90 consecutive seconds.
Santa Cruz Vehicle and Engine Noise
Some RestrictionsSanta Cruz Municipal Code §10.40.270(a)
It shall be unlawful for any person to permit any truck, automobile or motorcycle engine to idle for more than ninety consecutive seconds while that vehicle is parked on a city street.
Looking for Santa Cruz County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Cruz city rules.
Noise Ordinances in Santa Cruz County →