Gardena, CA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential daytime limit
- 55 dB(A) Leq / 75 dB(A) Lmax
- Residential nighttime limit
- 50 dB(A) Leq / 70 dB(A) Lmax
- Commercial daytime limit
- 65 dB(A) Leq / 85 dB(A) Lmax
- Industrial limit (24 hrs)
- 70 dB(A) Leq / 90 dB(A) Lmax
- Pure-tone/impulsive penalty
- All limits reduced by 5 dB(A)
- Violation classification
- Misdemeanor, prima facie under § 8.36.090
Summary
Gardena caps exterior noise under Gardena Municipal Code § 8.36.040 at 55 dB(A) average and 75 dB(A) peak in residential zones by day, dropping to 50/70 dB(A) overnight. Commercial property is allowed 65/85 dB(A) by day, and industrial property up to 70/90 dB(A) around the clock, measured at the affected receiving property.
Type of Land Use Allowable Exterior Noise Level 15-Minute Average Noise Level (Leq) Maximum Noise Level (Lmax) 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 10 p.m. to 7 am 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 10 p.m. to 7 am Residential 55 dB(A) 50 dB(A) 75 dB(A) 70 dB(A) ... Commercial 65 dB(A) 60 dB(A) 85 dB(A) 80 dB(A) Industrial or manufacturing 70 dB(A) 70 dB(A) 90 dB(A) 90 dB(A) In the event the alleged offensive noise contains a pure tone such as a whine, screech, or hum, or contains repetitive, impulsive or impact noise such as hammering or riveting, or contains music or speech conveying informational content, each of the above noise standards shall be reduced by 5 dB.
Full Breakdown
Under § 8.36.040(A), Gardena measures exterior noise at the affected receiver property using a fifteen-minute average (Leq) and a maximum instantaneous level (Lmax). Residential property is limited to 55 dB(A) Leq and 75 dB(A) Lmax between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., tightening to 50 dB(A) Leq and 70 dB(A) Lmax overnight. Commercial property may run louder, 65 dB(A) Leq and 85 dB(A) Lmax by day and 60/80 dB(A) at night, while industrial or manufacturing property is capped at 70 dB(A) Leq and 90 dB(A) Lmax around the clock.
If the offending sound is a pure tone such as a whine or hum, or is repetitive, impulsive, or carries music or speech, every one of those numbers is reduced by 5 dB(A). Section 8.36.050 sets a separate, stricter interior standard for residential dwellings receiving intrusive noise from outside: 45 dB(A) Leq and 65 dB(A) Lmax by day, and 40 dB(A) Leq and 60 dB(A) Lmax overnight, measured inside the affected unit with windows in their normal seasonal position. If the ambient noise level already exceeds a listed standard, § 8.36.040(C) makes that ambient level the new standard for the location.
Measurements follow § 8.36.060, using an ANSI-compliant sound level meter on the A-weighting scale, calibrated immediately before each reading and taken from the position on the receiver's property with the highest perceived noise. Exceeding any of these limits is prima facie evidence of a violation under § 8.36.090.
Violations & Fines
Any exceedance of the § 8.36.040 or § 8.36.050 limits is prima facie evidence of a violation under § 8.36.090, and a person who violates or permits the violation of the noise chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor. The city can also seek a restraining order, injunction, or other court judgment to abate the noise as a public nuisance, and unpaid abatement costs become a lien against the property and a personal obligation of the owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the residential noise limit in Gardena?
Are commercial and industrial properties allowed to be louder?
Does music or a whine count differently?
How does the city measure noise complaints?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gardena
California rules heatmap·Compare Gardena to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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