Kern County, CA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Kern County, CA, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Code Section
- § 8.36.020
- Weekday Quiet Window
- 9:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m.
- Weekend Quiet Window
- 9:00 p.m.–8:00 a.m.
- Proximity Trigger
- Within 1,000 ft of occupied residence
- Audibility Trigger
- Audible at 150 ft
- Exemptions
- Emergency work; director-issued exemptions
Summary
Section 8.36.020 prohibits construction noise between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. weekdays and 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. weekends when audible at 150 feet from the site, if the site is within 1,000 feet of an occupied residential dwelling. Emergency work is exempt.
It is unlawful for any person to create noise from construction between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on weekdays and 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. on weekends which is audible to a person with average hearing faculties or capacity at a distance of 150 feet from the construction site, if the construction site is within 1,000 feet from an occupied residential dwelling. The development services agency director or his designated representative may for good cause exempt some construction work for a limited time. Emergency work is exempt from this section.
Full Breakdown
Under Kern County Code § 8.36.020, it is unlawful to create noise from construction between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on weekdays and between 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. on weekends if the construction site is within 1,000 feet of an occupied residential dwelling and the construction noise is audible to a person with average hearing faculties or capacity at a distance of 150 feet from the site. The Director of the Planning and Development Services Agency (formerly Development Services Agency) or a designated representative may, for good cause, grant a limited-time exemption for specific construction work. Emergency work, for example, repairs needed to protect health, safety, or property, is exempt from this section by its own terms. Daytime construction (6 a.m. weekdays / 8 a.m. weekends through 9 p.m.) is unrestricted by Chapter 8.36, though it remains subject to the general 'loud and raucous' standard if it disturbs neighborhood enjoyment.
Violations & Fines
A violation is enforced as a county-code offense under Title 1, prosecutable as an infraction or misdemeanor. Officers cite under § 1.12.010 using state Penal Code citation procedures. Each day a violation continues can be charged as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can construction legally make noise in unincorporated Kern County?
What if my site is far from any home?
Can I get a permit for night work?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kern County
How Kern County compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·California rules heatmap·Compare Kern County to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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