Fairfield, CA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential daytime exterior
- 50 dBA Leq / 70 dBA Lmax
- Residential nighttime exterior
- 45 dBA Leq / 65 dBA Lmax
- Nighttime construction cutoff
- 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Tonal/impulsive adjustment
- Minus 5 dB from table limits
- Enforcing department
- Director of Public Works
Summary
Fairfield caps exterior noise at residential property lines at 50 dBA Leq in daytime and 45 dBA at night, under Table 25.1401 of Section 25.1403. Quieter interior standards apply to hospitals, theaters, schools and other noise-sensitive uses, with each limit dropped 5 dB for tonal or impulsive sounds.
It is unlawful for any person to create any noise at any location in the City of Fairfield that results in the exposure to other properties in the vicinity that exceeds the levels of Table 25.1401, except as otherwise provided for in this ordinance. ... Residential: Exterior Noise-Level Standard (Applicable at Property Line): Leq Daytime (7 am - 10 pm) 50, Nighttime (10 pm - 7 am) 45; Lmax Daytime 70, Nighttime 65. Interior Noise-Level Standard: Leq Daytime 40, Nighttime 35. ... Each of the noise levels specified above shall be lowered by 5 dB for simple tone noises, noises consisting primarily of speech or music, or recurring impulsive noises.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4962673; v0 updated 2026-02-17).
Full Breakdown
1401. That table sets separate exterior and interior standards by land use and time of day. ; the interior standard for residential units is 40 dBA daytime and 35 dBA nighttime. Other noise-sensitive uses get interior-only limits: transient lodging, hospitals and nursing homes are capped at 40 dBA Leq daytime and 35 dBA nighttime, theaters and music halls at a flat 35 dBA, churches and meeting halls at 40 dBA, and schools, libraries, offices and museums at 45 dBA. Playgrounds and parks carry a 65 dBA daytime exterior limit with no nighttime standard listed.
Every one of those numbers drops by 5 dB for simple tone noises, speech- or music-dominated noise, or recurring impulsive sounds. without written permission from the Director of Public Works, and large-truck loading or delivery near residential uses during those same night hours if it would exceed the table's Lmax thresholds.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding Table 25.1401's limits, or running construction equipment or truck deliveries near a residential use between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. without the Director of Public Works' written permission, violates Sections 25.1403 and 25.1404 and exposes the responsible party to code enforcement citation and penalties. Where the existing ambient noise level already exceeds the table's thresholds, any new noise source must add mitigation to bring the level back down to the pre-existing ambient level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the daytime noise limit at a Fairfield residential property line?
Can construction crews run equipment at night in Fairfield?
Do Fairfield's noise limits change for music or repetitive noise?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fairfield
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Solano County handle decibel limits.