Long Beach, CA Noise from Specific Sources: HVAC & Mechanical Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Property line limit
- 60 dB(A) if installed before 1-1-80; 55 dB(A) on or after
- Neighbor's patio limit
- 55 dB(A) before 1-1-80; 50 dB(A) on or after
- Neighbor's window limit
- 55 dB(A) before 1-1-80; 50 dB(A) on or after
- Measurement height
- Five feet above grade, at least three feet from any wall
- Maximum penalty
- Misdemeanor: up to $500 fine, 180 days jail, or both
- Variance term
- Up to 365 days from the date of issuance
- Appeal deadline
- 10 days, in writing, to the City Council
Summary
Long Beach caps air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment noise at 60 dB(A) at a neighbor's property line for units installed before 1-1-80 (January 1, 1980), and 55 dB(A) for units installed on or after that date. Readings at a neighboring patio or at the nearest neighboring living-area window face a tighter ceiling of 55 or 50 dB(A).
N. Air-conditioning or air refrigerating equipment. Operating or permitting the operation of any air-conditioning or air refrigerating equipment in such a manner as to exceed any of the following sound levels measured as specified in the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers Code of Recommended Practices: Measurement Location Units Installed Before 1-1-80 dB (A) Units Installed On Or After 1-1-80 dB (A) Any point on neighboring property line, five feet above grade level, no closer than three feet from any wall 60 55 Center of neighboring patio five feet above grade level, no closer than three feet from any wall 55 50 Outside the neighboring living area window nearest the equipment location, not more than three feet from the window opening, but at least three feet from any other surface 55 50 In case of conflict, the interior noise standards as specified in Section 8.80.170 shall nonetheless apply;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 52 Update 1 | City Charter: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
Section 8.80.200(N) of the Long Beach Municipal Code makes it a violation to operate, or permit the operation of, any air-conditioning or air refrigerating equipment in a way that exceeds a measured sound level. The level depends on where the reading is taken and when the unit was installed. At any point on the neighboring property line, five feet above grade level and no closer than three feet from any wall, the limit is 60 dB(A) for units installed before 1-1-80 and 55 dB(A) for units installed on or after 1-1-80.
At the center of a neighboring patio, five feet above grade level and no closer than three feet from any wall, the limits drop to 55 and 50 dB(A). Outside the neighboring living area window nearest the equipment, not more than three feet from the window opening but at least three feet from any other surface, the limits are also 55 and 50 dB(A). The sound levels are measured as specified in the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers Code of Recommended Practices.
The city's general measurement procedure in Section 8.80.140 calls for the A weighting scale and slow meter response, with the microphone normally five feet above the ground and ten feet or more from the nearest reflective surface where possible, and calibration of the meter immediately before and after the reading. Section 8.80.290 exempts air conditioning equipment from the district-by-district exterior limits in Section 8.80.150, so the table in subsection N is the yardstick for condensers, compressors and rooftop units. The subsection ends by keeping the indoor standards alive: in case of conflict, the interior noise standards in Section 8.80.170 still apply.
Under Table C of that section, the allowable level inside a residence is 35 dBA from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and 45 dBA from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., measured with windows in their normal seasonal configuration. Section 8.80.180 then reduces those limits by 5 dB when the sound contains a steady audible tone such as a whine, screech or hum.
Violations & Fines
Enforcement starts only with a written sworn complaint from a person who resides or owns property in the noise district the sound reaches (Section 8.80.370). Noise over the limit that can be traced to a specific facility is presumed to be a violation. The Noise Control Officer can issue an abatement order instead of a notice of violation, and no further action follows if the cause is corrected in the time given (Section 8.80.390). Conviction after a documented determination and failure to comply is a misdemeanor with a fine up to $500, up to 180 days in jail, or both, and each later day is a separate offense (Section 8.80.380). Section 8.80.410 also lets a court treat the equipment as a public nuisance and order it abated by injunction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can my neighbor's air conditioner be at my property line?
What are the limits at my patio and my living-room window?
How do I get the city to act on a noisy air conditioner?
Can an owner get a variance for equipment that exceeds the limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Long Beach to another location·View the California noise from specific sources overview
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