Santa Barbara, CA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)

The City of Santa Barbara sets its own construction-noise hours in SBMC Section 9.16.040 (Construction Work at Night Prohibited) — a city rule, not Santa Barbara County's. The City's Community Development Department Noise Ordinance packet states that construction times, including preparation for construction, for most projects are 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. Section 9.16.040 makes it unlawful, between 8:00 p.m. of any day and 7:00 a.m. of the following day, to erect, construct, demolish, excavate for, alter or repair any building or structure if the noise level created is in excess of the ambient noise level by 5 dBA at the nearest property line of a property used for residential purposes, unless a special (after-hours) permit has been applied for and granted by the Chief Building Official. In deciding on a waiver the official weighs whether night work would be less objectionable, traffic impacts, the type of work, the residential character of the neighborhood, economic hardship and the public interest, and may set conditions, working times, equipment and permissible noise emissions. Authorization must be received at least one week before after-hours work begins. Larger projects conditioned by the Planning Commission can be held to tighter hours — typically 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturdays, and no work on Sundays or listed legal holidays. The rule does not apply to utility crews restoring service after a calamity or protecting against imminent danger.