Murrieta, CA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)

Section 16.30.130(A)(1) of the Development Code's noise chapter makes it a violation to operate or cause the operation of tools or equipment used in construction, drilling, repair, alteration, or demolition work between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays, or at any time on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays, if the sound creates a noise disturbance across a residential or commercial property line; the only exception is emergency work by public service utilities. Section 16.30.130(A)(2) layers numeric limits on top of the hours restriction. For nonscheduled, intermittent, short-term mobile equipment run less than ten days, the maximum is 75 dBA at single-family residences, 80 dBA at multi-family residences, and 85 dBA at commercial structures during the 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. weekday window, dropping to 60, 64, and 70 dBA respectively after 8:00 p.m. and all day Sunday and holidays.

Stationary equipment run three days or more is held to tighter caps: 60/65/70 dBA in the daytime window and 50/55/60 dBA at night and on Sundays and holidays for single-family, multi-family, and commercial structures. Mobile equipment noise at business structures is capped at 85 dBA at all hours, including Sundays and holidays, under Section 16.30.130(A)(2)(b). Section 16.30.130(A)(3) further requires every mobile or stationary internal combustion engine on a job site to carry a working exhaust and air-intake silencer. Section 16.30.040 puts the code enforcement officer in charge of taking all noise-level measurements, and Section 16.30.050 requires a written notice of violation on a first offense, giving the violator a chance to correct the condition before further action is taken.