Quiet Hours: Los Angeles vs San Diego
How do quiet hours rules compare between Los Angeles, CA and San Diego, CA?
Los Angeles has fewer restrictions than San Diego.
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 Diego, CA
San Diego County
San Diego enforces quantitative sound level limits under SDMC Chapter 5, Article 9.5, Division 4. Residential one-hour average limits: 50 dBA daytime (7 AM-7 PM), 45 dBA evening (7-10 PM), 40 dBA nighttime (10 PM-7 AM). Amplified sound audible beyond 50 feet is prohibited during nighttime hours.
View full San Diego rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Los Angeles | San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Code | LAMC Chapter XI, §§41.57, 112.04–112.05 | - |
| Quiet Hours | 10 PM–7 AM | 10 PM-7 AM (8 AM weekends) |
| 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 | - |
| Day Limit | - | 50 dBA (one-hour avg) |
| Evening Limit | - | 45 dBA (7-10 PM) |
| Night Limit | - | 40 dBA (10 PM-7 AM) |
| Code Section | - | SDMC 59.5.0401 |
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 Diego FAQ
What are San Diego's quiet hours?
10 PM to 7 AM weekdays, 10 PM to 8 AM weekends and holidays. During these hours, amplified sound audible beyond 50 feet from the source is prohibited.
What are the residential decibel limits?
50 dBA daytime (7 AM-7 PM), 45 dBA evening (7-10 PM), and 40 dBA nighttime (10 PM-7 AM), measured as one-hour averages under SDMC 59.5.0401.
How do I file a noise complaint?
Contact the San Diego Police Department non-emergency line at (619) 531-2000 or file a Code Enforcement complaint online at sandiego.gov.
Compare other topics
See how Los Angeles and San Diego 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