Hawthorne, CA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Hawthorne, CA, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- HMC § 9.34.060
- Weekday hours
- 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Mon-Fri
- Saturday hours
- 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
- Sunday/holidays
- Not allowed
- Construction noise cap
- Table N-1 limit plus 20 dB Leq
Summary
Hawthorne limits construction and demolition noise to weekdays 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., barring it entirely on Sundays and federal holidays, with added decibel caps for work near residential zones.
Allowable Hours of Construction Activity. Construction and demolition activities are allowed only during the times specified in Table N-3...Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, Federal Holidays Not allowed. Note: should demolition, excavation, grading, spray painting, construction, maintenance, and/or repair of buildings be conducted outside of the above-defined hours, the applicable noise level limits will revert to those specified in Sections 9.34.030 and 9.34.040.
Full Breakdown
Hawthorne Municipal Code § 9.34.060(B) restricts construction and demolition activity to the hours in Table N-3: Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and not allowed at all on Sunday or federal holidays. Work conducted outside those hours reverts to the general exterior and interior noise limits of §§ 9.34.030 and 9.34.040 rather than the relaxed construction allowance. Under subsection C, even within allowed hours, construction noise can't exceed the Table N-1 land-use standard plus 20 dB on an energy-average (Leq) basis, or plus 40 dB on a maximum (Lmax) basis.
For any private development within 500 feet of a residential or noise-sensitive use, subsection D requires the applicant to submit, before a building permit issues, a list of equipment (pile drivers, jackhammers, pavement breakers, vibratory rollers, etc.), planned activities such as 24-hour pumping or drilling, and mitigation measures such as temporary sound barriers, muffled equipment, and haul-route restrictions. Subsection F exempts home power tools and yard maintenance equipment used by an owner or resident, so long as they're used between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Monday-Friday or 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Exceptions to the construction hours can be granted under subsection E if the requester shows the public interest is served, decided either as part of a discretionary entitlement application or, for a straight building/demolition/grading permit, by the noise control officer.
Violations & Fines
A violation is enforced the same as other noise chapter breaches under § 9.34.100: written notice with a correction deadline, then a $250 fine for the first infraction and an additional $250 for each day the violation continues if uncorrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can construction happen on Sundays in Hawthorne?
Are homeowners using a lawnmower or power drill subject to the construction hours?
How loud can a construction site be during permitted hours near my house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hawthorne
California rules heatmap·Compare Hawthorne to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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Construction Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle construction hours.