LA County Code §12.08.440 caps powered construction equipment at 75 dBA measured at 50 feet from the source in unincorporated areas. Work allowed Mon-Sat 7am-8pm; banned on Sundays and holidays. LASD and DPW handle citations.
Title 12.08.440 of the LA County Code regulates construction equipment noise in unincorporated areas. Powered equipment including jackhammers, compressors, generators, pile drivers, and concrete saws cannot exceed 75 dBA at 50 feet from the source, with mufflers required on all internal-combustion engines. Permitted hours run 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday; Sundays and federal holidays prohibit construction except for emergency repairs. Variances exist for time-critical concrete pours or large public works projects through DPW Building & Safety. Contract cities (West Hollywood, Lakewood, etc.) follow their own noise ordinances. The Sheriff and County Code Enforcement issue citations after warnings.
Violation of §12.08.440 is a misdemeanor under LA County Code §12.08.530 punishable by fines up to $1,000 per day plus possible six-month suspension of building permits. Repeat offenders may face stop-work orders from DPW Building & Safety.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Santa Monica, CA
Backyard chickens are allowed in Santa Monica with restrictions. Roosters are prohibited in residential areas due to noise. Livestock keeping is restricted b...
Santa Monica, CA
Dogs must be on a leash in all public areas in Santa Monica. Off-leash dogs are only permitted in designated dog parks. The city enforces leash laws through ...
Santa Monica, CA
Santa Monica does not impose breed-specific legislation. All dogs must be licensed per CA Food & Ag Code §30500+. Dangerous dog determinations are based on i...
Santa Monica, CA
Feeding wildlife in Santa Monica public parks and beaches is discouraged. The city's property maintenance code addresses nuisance conditions from wildlife at...
Santa Monica, CA
Portable fire pits on private property in Santa Monica must comply with South Coast AQMD regulations. Burns are prohibited on spare-the-air days. Beach fires...
Santa Monica, CA
Properties in fire hazard zones near Santa Monica must maintain defensible space per CA PRC §4291. Santa Monica itself is largely urban/coastal with limited ...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County.
See how Santa Monica's construction equipment noise rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.