Quiet Hours: Los Angeles vs San Francisco
How do quiet hours rules compare between Los Angeles, CA and San Francisco, CA?
Los Angeles and San Francisco have similar restriction levels.
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles County
Los Angeles Municipal Code Chapter XI prohibits unnecessary, excessive noise. Quiet hours run 10 PM–7 AM. Noise must not exceed ambient levels by more than 5 dBA on adjacent residential properties.
View full Los Angeles rules →San Francisco, CA
San Francisco County
San Francisco regulates noise under Police Code Article 29 (Sections 2900-2920), administered by the Department of Public Health and enforced by SFPD. Quiet hours run 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Section 2909 sets a fixed-source interior limit of 45 dBA at night and 55 dBA during the day inside residential sleeping or living rooms. Outdoor residential noise from machines, devices, music, or entertainment cannot exceed the local ambient by more than 5 dBA at the property line. Construction noise generally cannot exceed 80 dBA at 100 feet (Sec. 2907) and is restricted between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. without a special permit. Report violations to SFPD non-emergency at (415) 553-0123.
View full San Francisco rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Los Angeles | San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Code | LAMC Chapter XI, §§41.57, 112.04–112.05 | - |
| Quiet Hours | 10 PM–7 AM | 10:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. |
| dBA Limit | Not to exceed ambient +5 dBA | - |
| Equipment | 75 dB max; gas blowers banned within 500 ft of residence | - |
| Enforcement | LAPD non-emergency: (877) 275-5273 | - |
| Code Citation | - | Police Code Art. 29 (Sec. 2900-2920) |
| Interior Night Limit | - | 45 dBA (Sec. 2909) |
| Interior Day Limit | - | 55 dBA (Sec. 2909) |
| Outdoor Residential | - | 5 dBA above ambient |
| Complaint Line | - | SFPD (415) 553-0123 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Los Angeles FAQ
What are the quiet hours in los Angeles?
Los Angeles Municipal Code Chapter XI prohibits unnecessary, excessive noise. Quiet hours run 10 PM–7 AM. Noise must not exceed ambient levels by more than 5 dBA on adjacent residential properties.
What happens if I violate the noise ordinance in los Angeles?
Code: LAMC Chapter XI, §§41.57, 112.04–112.05. Quiet Hours: 10 PM–7 AM. dBA Limit: Not to exceed ambient +5 dBA. Equipment: 75 dB max; gas blowers banned within 500 ft of residence.
San Francisco FAQ
What are the quiet hours in San Francisco?
Quiet hours under Police Code Article 29 are 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. During these hours, fixed sources cannot exceed 45 dBA inside any residential sleeping or living room, and unreasonable human or animal noise is prohibited under Section 2908. Outdoor residential noise from machines, music, or entertainment cannot exceed 5 dBA above the local ambient at the property line at any time. Report disturbances to SFPD non-emergency at (415) 553-0123.
Can I do construction at night in San Francisco?
No, not without a permit. Police Code Section 2907 prohibits construction work between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. and caps construction equipment noise at 80 dBA at 100 feet. Night work requires a Night Noise Permit from the San Francisco Department of Public Works. Working outside permitted hours can result in citations, administrative penalties, and stop-work orders.
Compare other topics
See how Los Angeles and San Francisco compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool