Santa Clara County Title B limits construction equipment noise in unincorporated areas to weekday daytime hours and caps levels at the property line. Cities like San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Cupertino adopt their own stricter or comparable construction noise ordinances.
Santa Clara County Code Title B regulates noise from powered construction equipment, including jackhammers, excavators, generators, compressors, and pneumatic tools used at building sites in unincorporated SCC. Permitted hours are typically 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM weekdays and 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Saturdays, with no work allowed on Sundays or county-observed holidays. Equipment must use manufacturer-supplied mufflers in good condition. Maximum noise levels at the nearest receiving property line generally cannot exceed 85 dBA averaged. Cities including San Jose Municipal Code chapter 20.100, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Cupertino, and Palo Alto each maintain comparable or stricter ordinances. Emergency utility repairs and Caltrans freeway projects are typically exempt.
First violations are infractions punishable by fines up to $100, escalating to $200 and $500 for repeat offenses within twelve months. Continuing violations after written notice can be charged as misdemeanors with stop-work orders.
See how San Jose's construction equipment noise rules stack up against other locations.
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