Los Angeles County, CA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Los Angeles County, CA, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Permitted hours
- Weekdays 7 a.m.-7 p.m. only
- Banned times
- Nights, Sundays, and legal holidays
- Citation
- LACC Section 12.08.440
- Applies to
- Unincorporated LA County only
- Daytime residential cap
- 75-85 dBA for mobile equipment
Summary
In unincorporated Los Angeles County, construction, drilling, demolition and repair work is banned on weeknights from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and all day on Sundays and holidays whenever it creates a noise disturbance across a property line.
Operating or causing the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling, repair, alteration or demolition work between weekday hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or at any time on Sundays or holidays, such that the sound therefrom creates a noise disturbance across a residential or commercial real-property line, except for emergency work of public service utilities or by variance issued by the health officer is prohibited.
Full Breakdown
County Code Section 12.08.440 bars construction tools and equipment from creating a noise disturbance across a residential or commercial property line between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weekdays, or at any time on Sundays and legal holidays, in the unincorporated areas the County Code governs. Daytime work (7 a.m.-8 p.m.) is capped at 75-85 dBA for mobile equipment and 60-70 dBA for stationary equipment near residential structures, dropping further after 8 p.m. Public-utility emergency work is exempt, and the health officer can grant a variance. Violations are misdemeanors under Section 12.08.020.
Violations & Fines
Violating the construction-hour or decibel limits is a misdemeanor under LACC Section 12.08.020, enforced by County code enforcement and Public Health; each day of violation can be charged separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do construction work on Sundays in unincorporated LA County?
Does this rule apply inside the City of Los Angeles?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles County
How Los Angeles County compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·California rules heatmap·Compare Los Angeles County to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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