Decibel Limits: Daly City vs Redwood City
How do decibel limits rules compare between Daly City, CA and Redwood City, CA?
Daly City and Redwood City have similar restriction levels.
Daly City, CA
San Mateo County
Daly City does NOT set numeric decibel (dB or dB(A)) limits. The Municipal Code uses a qualitative standard: § 9.22.010 prohibits noise that disturbs the public peace, and § 9.22.030 prohibits any noise audible beyond the property line between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Officers determine violations based on audibility and reasonableness, not sound-level meter readings.
View full Daly City rules →Redwood City, CA
San Mateo County
County Code 4.88.330 sets exterior noise limits at residences, schools, hospitals, churches and libraries on a sliding scale by how long the noise lasts in an hour. Daytime (7 a.m.-10 p.m.) limits run from 55 dBA (30 min/hr) up to 75 dBA (instantaneous max); nighttime (10 p.m.-7 a.m.) limits are 5 dBA lower, from 50 to 70 dBA.
View full Redwood City rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Daly City | Redwood City |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime dB limit | None — qualitative 'disturbs the peace' (§ 9.22.010) | - |
| Nighttime rule | 10 p.m. - 6 a.m., no audible noise across property line (§ 9.22.030) | - |
| Enforcement method | Officer audibility test, not sound meter | - |
| Loud-party civil fine | $1,500 first offense (§ 9.23.030) | - |
| Planning guidance | 65 dB CNEL residential compatibility (General Plan Noise Element) | - |
| Code section | - | County Code 4.88.330 (Table I) |
| Daytime 30-min limit | - | 55 dBA (7 a.m.-10 p.m.) |
| Nighttime 30-min limit | - | 50 dBA (10 p.m.-7 a.m.) |
| Daytime max (not to exceed) | - | 75 dBA |
| Nighttime max (not to exceed) | - | 70 dBA |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Daly City FAQ
Does Daly City use a decibel meter to enforce noise rules?
Not routinely. Chapter 9.22 is a qualitative ordinance — officers rely on direct observation of audibility across the property line and the reasonable-person standard, not dB meter readings.
What dB level is 'too loud' in Daly City?
There is no numeric limit. Between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., any noise audible beyond your property line technically violates § 9.22.030. During the day, the test is whether the noise disturbs the public peace under § 9.22.010.
Where do I report a noise violation?
Call Daly City Police non-emergency at (650) 991-8119. For loud parties involving underage drinking, the dedicated $1,500-per-incident loud-gathering ordinance (§ 9.23.030) applies.
Redwood City FAQ
What is the nighttime noise limit in unincorporated San Mateo County?
Under 4.88.330, nighttime exterior limits (10 p.m.-7 a.m.) start at 50 dBA for noise lasting 30 minutes of the hour, rising in steps to a 70 dBA level that is never to be exceeded.
Where is the noise measured?
At the exterior of the affected residence, school, hospital, church or public library - the receiving property - not at the source of the noise.
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