Noise Ordinances in Westminster, CA (2026)
6 verified noise ordinances for Westminster, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Construction Hours
Westminster's noise ordinance exempts construction, remodeling, and grading activity from the city's general noise limits only when the work occurs between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekdays, including Saturday. Outside that window, and at any time on Sunday or a federal holiday, the exemption disappears and construction noise must meet the same interior and exterior decibel limits as every other noise source in the city.
Westminster Limits Construction Noise Hours
Some RestrictionsWestminster Municipal Code § 8.28.060(E)
Noise sources associated with construction repair, remodeling, or grading of any real property, provided said activities do not take place between the hours of eight p.m. and seven a.m. on weekdays, including Saturday, or at any time on Sunday or a federal holiday;
Barking Dogs
Westminster's city council has decreed a barking dog a public nuisance outright. A dog counts as "barking" if it makes noise for 30 minutes straight or 60 cumulative minutes in a day, and owners get a 10-day written warning before a citation issues.
Westminster Barking Dog Nuisance Law
Some RestrictionsWestminster Code § 6.08.180
The city council of the city of Westminster hereby decrees that maintaining, keeping and/or permitting a barking dog, as defined in Section 6.04.020 of this code, on any premises in the city of Westminster constitutes a public nuisance. Every day the barking dog violation exists beyond the ten-day notice period to correct the problem, as set out in Section 6.08.190 of this code, shall be regard...
Leaf Blower Rules
Westminster limits powered yard equipment, including leaf blowers, to 8 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays, and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays for residential occupants only, with a 70 dBA noise cap measured at 50 feet, and bans use entirely on holidays outside those Sunday hours.
Westminster Sets Hours and dB Cap for Leaf Blowers
Some RestrictionsWestminster Municipal Code § 8.26.020(A)-(B)
In residential areas, the use of powered yard equipment is permitted during the hours from eight a.m. to six p.m., Monday through Friday and nine a.m. to six p.m. on Saturdays. Powered equipment may be used on Sundays by the residential occupant only during the hours from nine a.m. to six p.m. The use and operation of powered yard equipment is further prohibited on any day which is a federal, s...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Westminster caps outdoor sound at 55 dB(A) around the clock in most of the city (Noise Zone 1) and 60 dB(A) by day and 55 dB(A) at night in R2-R5 residential zones (Noise Zone 2), then cuts every limit by an extra 5 dB(A) when the offending sound is music, speech, or another tonal noise.
Westminster Exterior Noise & Music Limits
Some RestrictionsWestminster Code § 8.28.040
The following noise standards, unless otherwise specifically indicated, shall apply to all residential property within a designated noise zone: EXTERIOR NOISE STANDARDS Noise Zone Noise Level Time Period 1 55 dB(A) 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. 55 dB(A) 10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m. 2 60 dB(A) 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. 55 dB(A) 10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m. ... In the event the alleged offensive noise consists entirely of imp...
Decibel Limits
Westminster sets exterior residential noise limits at 55 dB(A) in Noise Zone 1 and 60/55 dB(A) day/night in Noise Zone 2, plus interior limits of 55/45 and 60/50 dB(A), with graduated allowances for brief louder spikes measured in cumulative minutes per hour.
Westminster's Zone-Based Exterior and Interior dB Limits
Some RestrictionsWestminster Municipal Code § 8.28.040
EXTERIOR NOISE STANDARDS Noise Zone / Noise Level / Time Period: 1 - 55 dB(A) - 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.; 55 dB(A) - 10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m. 2 - 60 dB(A) - 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.; 55 dB(A) - 10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m. ... In the event the alleged offensive noise consists entirely of impact noise, simple tone noise, speech, music, or any combination thereof, each of the above noise levels shall be reduced by 5...
Vehicle Noise
Westminster requires an adequate muffler on any motor vehicle operated inside a city park, and separately bans advertising vehicles equipped with sound-amplifying or loudspeaking devices from the central traffic district streets and alleys at any time. Both are enforced as infractions under the code's general penalty provisions.
Westminster Vehicle Muffler and Loudspeaker Rules
Light RestrictionsWestminster Code §§ 10.52.020, 12.24.040(F)(7)
No person shall operate or drive any vehicle used for advertising purposes, or any advertising vehicle equipped with a sound-amplifying or loudspeaking device upon any street or alley at any time within the central traffic district. ... No person in a park shall: ... F. Parking. ... 7. Fail to use a muffler adequate to deaden the sound of engine in a motor vehicle;
Looking for Orange County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Westminster city rules.
Noise Ordinances in Orange County →