Noise Rules: Brentwood vs Martinez
How do noise rules rules compare between Brentwood, CA and Martinez, CA?
Martinez has fewer restrictions than Brentwood.
Brentwood, CA
Contra Costa County
Brentwood prohibits short-term rentals citywide under Municipal Code Chapter 17.796 (Ord. 1079, adopted Dec 10, 2024), so STR-specific noise rules do not apply. Any rental of 30 days or fewer is unlawful, leaving Brentwood's general noise ordinance to govern occupant conduct at long-term rentals.
View full Brentwood rules →Martinez, CA
Contra Costa County
Martinez does not publish a separate STR-specific noise standard. Any short-term lodging activity in the city must comply with the citywide Noise Control ordinance in Martinez Municipal Code Chapter 8.34, the general nuisance provisions in Title 1, and any conditions imposed through the bed-and-breakfast / lodging framework cross-referenced from MMC Section 22.04.051. Persistent noise disturbances at a guest-occupied dwelling can be cited as a public nuisance and can also support enforcement against any underlying use permit.
View full Martinez rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Brentwood | Martinez |
|---|---|---|
| STR Status | Banned citywide | - |
| Code Section | BMC Ch. 17.796 | - |
| Ordinance | No. 1079 (Dec 10, 2024) | - |
| Threshold | 30 days or fewer prohibited | - |
| ADUs | Included in ban | - |
| Hosted Stays | No exception | - |
| Citywide Noise Code | - | MMC Chapter 8.34 (Noise Control) |
| STR-Specific Noise Rule | - | None - general Chapter 8.34 applies |
| B&B / Lodging Framework | - | MMC Section 22.04.051 |
| County STR Quiet Hours | - | Do not apply inside Martinez (Ord. 2020-12 is unincorporated only) |
| Active Complaints | - | Martinez Police Department non-emergency |
| Repeat Patterns | - | Martinez Code Enforcement / nuisance abatement |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Brentwood FAQ
Are there quiet hours for short-term rentals in Brentwood?
No, because short-term rentals are themselves prohibited under BMC Chapter 17.796. There is no STR program to attach quiet-hours conditions to.
Does the unincorporated Contra Costa County STR noise rule apply inside Brentwood?
No. County Chapter 88-32 (Ord. 2020-12) governs unincorporated areas only; inside Brentwood, the citywide STR ban controls.
What if my neighbor is renting nightly?
Report it to City of Brentwood code enforcement. Stays of 30 days or fewer violate Chapter 17.796 and can trigger citations and abatement.
Martinez FAQ
Does Martinez have a special quiet-hours rule for short-term rentals?
No. Martinez has not adopted a short-term rental ordinance with its own quiet-hours standard. STR guests are bound by the same Chapter 8.34 Noise Control rules as any other resident, plus any conditions attached to a bed-and-breakfast approval under Section 22.04.051.
Do Contra Costa County's STR noise rules apply in Martinez?
No. The county's STR ordinance (Ordinance 2020-12 / Chapter 88-32) applies only in unincorporated Contra Costa County. Inside Martinez city limits, the city's own Chapter 8.34 noise rules and general nuisance provisions govern.
Who do neighbors call about noise from a vacation rental in Martinez?
Active disturbances should be reported to the Martinez Police Department non-emergency line. Repeated patterns can also be reported to Martinez Code Enforcement, which can pursue administrative citations and, where applicable, revocation of any underlying B&B or conditional use approval.
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