San Bernardino, CA Noise from Specific Sources: Delivery Truck Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Flat noise ban
- SBMC § 8.54.020(I), any hour
- Time-restricted loading
- § 8.54.050(B), within 1,000 ft of homes
- Heavy-truck idling cap
- 15 minutes per hour, § 8.54.050(G)
- Weight threshold
- Over 10,000 lbs GVW
- Residential hours
- 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Non-residential hours
- 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Summary
Loading or unloading trucks with excessive noise is flatly prohibited citywide under San Bernardino's Noise Control chapter, and the same chapter confines the activity to set daytime hours and keeps heavy trucks from idling more than 15 minutes an hour near homes.
The creation of loud and excessive noise in connection with the loading or unloading of motor trucks and other vehicles... (B) Load or unload any vehicle, or operate or permit the use of dollies, carts, forklifts or other wheeled equipment that causes any impulsive sound, raucous or unnecessary noise within 1,000 feet of a residence... (G) Operate or permit the use of any motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating in excess of 10,000 pounds... for a period longer than 15 minutes in any hour while the vehicle is stationary and on a public right-of-way or public space.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-2: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. MC-1666, passed 8-5-2026).
Full Breakdown
020(I) makes it unlawful to create "loud and excessive noise in connection with the loading or unloading of motor trucks and other vehicles," a blanket prohibition that applies at any hour and in any zone. 020(H) adds a related ban on unnecessary or excessive horn-blowing, bell-ringing, or whistle use by operators of trucks and other transportation equipment. elsewhere. 050(G) separately caps how long a truck over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, or its auxiliary equipment such as a refrigerated compressor, can idle while stationary on a public right-of-way or public space: 15 minutes per hour, unless traffic conditions restrict the vehicle's movement.
Together these three provisions give code enforcement and police three independent hooks: the flat excessive-noise ban, the time-of-day restriction near residences, and the idling cap for heavy trucks. 060 do not carve out commercial delivery operations; the only relevant exemption covers trash collection and public utility work performed by or for the city.
Violations & Fines
A loading-noise violation is punishable under § 8.54.080 as an infraction or misdemeanor per § 1.12.010, with fines of $100, $200, and $500 for successive infractions within a year and a misdemeanor exposure of up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine on a fourth violation. Officers may also issue a written abatement notice under § 8.54.030 before citing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a delivery truck unload near my house before 7 a.m.?
Is there a separate rule for excessively loud loading noise at any time?
How long can a delivery truck idle outside my house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino to another location·View the California noise from specific sources overview
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Delivery Truck Noise in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle delivery truck noise.