Santa Cruz County, CA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)

Santa Cruz County Code Chapter 13.15 (Noise Planning) implements the General Plan Noise Element. SCCC 13.15.040 exempts noise from construction, repair, remodeling, or grading of real property from general noise rules only when a required County permit has been obtained and the activity occurs between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. The Building Official may, in advance, authorize an earlier start of 7:00 a.m. and/or a later finish no later than 7:00 p.m. Saturday work is not allowed unless the Building Official has authorized it in advance, and then only between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and no more than three Saturdays per month.

Construction noise is prohibited on Sundays and federal holidays, and during early-morning or late-evening hours outside the permitted weekday/Saturday windows. Construction performed outside these exempt hours loses the exemption and is subject to the offensive-noise rules of Chapter 8.30. The General Plan separately directs the County to require best management practices to reduce construction noise as a condition of project approval, particularly where levels would exceed 75 dB at neighboring sensitive uses or where construction lasts more than 7 days.