Redwood City, CA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Redwood City, CA, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- General construction hours
- Weekdays 7 a.m.-8 p.m. only
- Excessive noise (>110 dB) hours
- Weekdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m. only
- Weekends/holidays
- All construction noise prohibited
- DIY owner exemption
- 7a-8p weekdays; 9a-5p weekends/holidays
- Violation penalty
- Infraction under Code Sec. 1.7B
- Enforcing agency
- Redwood City Police Chief
Summary
Redwood City confines general construction noise to weekdays, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., under City Code Sec. 24.32. Noise the code calls excessive, above 110 dB, is boxed into a narrower 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekday window, and all construction noise, including preconstruction deliveries and truck idling, is banned entirely on weekends and City-designated holidays.
A.General construction noise on private projects shall be limited to weekdays from seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. to eight o'clock (8:00) P.M. Excessive or unreasonable construction noises, as identified under Section 24.30, shall be limited to weekdays from nine o'clock (9:00) A.M. to four o'clock (4:00) P.M. General and excessive or unreasonable construction noise is prohibited during holiday periods, as indicated on the City website.B.Preconstruction noise including, but not limited to, loading and unloading, cleaning of mechanical toilets, maintenance of vehicles, deliveries, truck idling, backup beeps, yelling and radios is also limited to the general and excessive or unreasonable construction noise hours.C.The Building Official or their designee may approve construction work occurring outside the times described in Section A and B above for private projects. A request for work outside the designated periods must be received by the Building Official or their designee prior to construction. A copy of the approved request shall be kept on the site of the work.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Zoning Code: Supplement 29 | City Code: Supplement 61 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Section 24.32 of the Redwood City Code splits construction noise into two tiers. General construction noise on private projects is allowed weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Noise the City defines as excessive or unreasonable under Section 24.30, meaning an individual piece of construction machinery measured above 110 dB at 25 feet, or noise above 110 dB at the property line of a residential district, is restricted to a narrower window of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. Both tiers are prohibited outright during holiday periods listed on the City website, and neither may run on Saturdays or Sundays.
The same hours also cover preconstruction activity: loading and unloading, cleaning portable toilets, vehicle maintenance, deliveries, truck idling, backup beeps, yelling, and radios are all treated as construction noise under Section 24.32(B) and confined to the same windows. A separate exemption in Section 24.35 lets an owner or resident doing DIY repair work on their own dwelling operate on a wider schedule: weekdays 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and weekends and holidays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A property owner who needs to work outside the standard hours can ask the Building Official or a designee for approval before construction begins; the approved request must be kept on site.
Enforcement of the noise chapter is vested primarily in the Chief of Police under Section 24.40, who can delegate to other City staff. Any excessive or unreasonable noise is separately declared a public nuisance under Section 24.42, which the City can abate, enjoin, or sue over independent of a criminal citation.
Violations & Fines
Violating the construction-hours limits is an infraction under Section 24.41, punishable under Code Section 1.7B, and applies to each day noise continues outside the permitted windows. The City can also treat excessive noise as a public nuisance under Section 24.42, letting it seek abatement, injunctive relief, and damages in addition to any citation, and Section 24.43 makes these remedies cumulative rather than exclusive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a contractor get permission to work outside the construction noise hours in Redwood City?
Does the noise ordinance apply to truck idling and deliveries?
Can I do my own home repairs outside the construction hours?
What happens if a contractor ignores the hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Redwood City
California rules heatmap·Compare Redwood City to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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Construction Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Mateo County handle construction hours.