San Diego, CA Noise from Specific Sources: Car Alarm Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Auto-shutoff required within
- 20 minutes
- Covers
- Structures and motor vehicles
- Police authority
- May disconnect alarm directly
- Owner must
- Display contact phone number
Summary
San Diego caps how long a burglar alarm, including a car alarm, can blare. SDMC § 59.5.0503 bans any audible alarm that can't shut off on its own within 20 minutes, and lets police disconnect one themselves while it's sounding.
(a) Audible burglar alarms for structures or motor vehicles are prohibited unless the operation of such burglar alarms can be terminated within 20 minutes of being activated.
(b) Notwithstanding the requirements of this provision, any member of the Police Department of The City of San Diego shall have the right to take such steps as may be reasonable and necessary to disconnect any such alarm installed in any building, dwelling, or motor vehicle at any time during the period of its activation. On or after thirty (30) days from the effective date of this article, any building, dwelling or motor vehicle upon which a burglar alarm has been installed shall prominently display the telephone number at which communication may be made with the owner of such building, dwelling, or motor vehicle.
(Amended 1-3-1984 by O-16100 N.S.)
Ch. Art. Div. 5 9.5 5 5
===== SOURCE FILE: Ch05Art09.5Division06.pdf =====
San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 5: Public Safety, Morals and Welfare (6-2000)
Full Breakdown
SDMC § 59.5.0503 prohibits operating an audible burglar alarm on a structure or motor vehicle unless it is built to terminate automatically within 20 minutes of activation. Any San Diego Police Department officer may take reasonable and necessary steps to disconnect an alarm on a building, dwelling, or vehicle at any time while it is sounding. Within 30 days of the ordinance's effective date, every building, dwelling, or vehicle with an installed alarm must prominently display a phone number where the owner can be reached, so responders aren't left tracking down ownership records.
Violations & Fines
A violation is prosecuted under SDMC § 59.5.0604 as a misdemeanor: up to a $1,000 fine, up to 6 months in jail, or both, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a car alarm legally sound in San Diego?
Can police shut off a sounding car alarm themselves?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego
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Car Alarm Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Diego County handle car alarm limits.