Davis, CA Noise from Specific Sources: Low-Frequency Bass Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Core rule
- No noise unreasonably disturbing neighborhood peace
- Bass named explicitly
- "Very low bass" cited as a factor
- Trigger
- 1 corroborated complaint or 3 complaints/2 premises
- Other factors
- Loudness, duration, time of day, necessity
- 1st-2nd violation/yr
- Infraction (Gov. Code §36900)
- 3rd violation/yr
- Misdemeanor (Gov. Code §36901)
Summary
Davis's general noise ordinance bans any noise that unreasonably disturbs a neighborhood's peace and quiet, and § 24.05.010 specifically lists pitch, including very low bass or high screech, as a factor police weigh when deciding whether a sound crosses that line.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, and in addition thereto, it is unlawful for any person to willfully make or continue, or cause to be made or continued, any noise which unreasonably disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood. (b) For purposes of this article a complaint of unreasonable noise is deemed a prima facie violation if there is one complaint, and independent corroboration by a police department employee of the unreasonable nature of the noise, based on the criteria in subsection (c) of this section, or three distinct complaints from two affected premises affected by the same sound source, with the exception of events covered under Section 24.04.070(a). (c) The factors below shall be considered when determining whether a violation of the provisions of this section exists shall include, but shall not be limited to the following: ... (2) Pitch (frequency) of the sound, e.g. very low bass or high screech;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4915048; v22 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
05 (General Noise Regulations), operates on top of the chapter's numeric decibel tables: notwithstanding any other noise provision, it is unlawful to willfully make or continue any noise that unreasonably disturbs the peace and quiet of a neighborhood. 070(a). Subsection (c) lists the factors an officer weighs, and pitch, or frequency, is named explicitly: the code gives 'very low bass or high screech' as the illustrative example, alongside loudness, duration, time of day, the necessity of the noise (the code's own example is garbage collection) and the level of background noise.
That makes heavy sub-bass, such as a car stereo, home theater or party speaker producing a persistent low-frequency thump, independently relevant even where a decibel meter reading under Table No. 1 would otherwise be inconclusive, because low frequencies can carry through walls and property lines in a way ordinary A-weighted decibel measurements understate. 010 makes clear that where any other noise standard in the code is more restrictive, the more restrictive standard controls.
Violations & Fines
A first or second general-noise violation within a year is an infraction under § 24.01.030, fined up to the cap in Government Code § 36900; a third within that year is a misdemeanor, punishable by fine, County Jail time up to six months, or both, per Government Code § 36901. Each day the disturbance continues is a separate offense, and repeated confirmed violations within twenty-four hours let police abate the noise directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Davis cite someone for a bass-heavy stereo even if it's not that loud?
How many complaints does it take before Davis treats bass noise as a violation?
Does the general noise rule apply during a permitted block party or concert?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Davis
California rules heatmap·Compare Davis to another location·View the California noise from specific sources overview
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