Santa Cruz County, CA Noise from Specific Sources: Low-Frequency Bass Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing factor
- Pitch/frequency, SCCC § 8.30.010(C)(2)
- Daytime decibel test
- 75 dB at property line, 8am-10pm
- Nighttime decibel test
- 60 dB at property line, 10pm-8am
- First step
- Warning required before any citation
- Repeat within 48 hrs
- Misdemeanor under § 8.30.020
Summary
Santa Cruz County has no separate decibel limit for bass frequencies: instead, SCCC § 8.30.010(C)(2) lists 'pitch (frequency) of the sound, e.g., very low bass or high screech' as one of seven factors weighed together in deciding whether any noise is 'offensive' under the county's general noise ordinance.
(C) The following factors shall be considered when determining whether a violation of the provisions of this section exists: (1) Loudness (Intensity) of the Sound. ... (2) Pitch (frequency) of the sound, e.g., very low bass or high screech; (3) Duration of the sound; (4) Time of day or night; (5) Necessity of the noise, e.g., garbage collecting, street repair, permitted construction activities; (6) The level of customary background noise, e.g., residential neighborhood, commercial zoning district, etc.; and (7) The proximity to any building regularly used for sleeping purposes.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 5004302; v11 updated 2026-05-19; through 05-19-2026).
Full Breakdown
010(A)-(B)). 010(C)(2)). 010(C)(3)-(7)). 010(C)(1)). A booming bass system that stays under those decibel thresholds can still be cited as offensive once its low-frequency character is weighed against the other six factors. 010(D)).
Violations & Fines
A first bass-noise complaint gets a warning, not a citation; only if the same or similar offensive noise resumes within three months does § 8.30.010(D) allow a citation, and no sound-level meter is legally required to prove the violation. A second citation for the same section within 48 hours of the first is a misdemeanor under § 8.30.020.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Santa Cruz County have a specific decibel limit for bass or subwoofer noise?
Can loud bass still be illegal even if it's under 75 decibels?
Do I get a warning before being cited for bass noise?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Cruz County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Cruz County to another location·View the California noise from specific sources overview
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