Hawthorne, CA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- HMC § 9.34.030, Table N-1
- Residential daytime cap
- 60 dBA Leq (7am-10pm)
- Residential nighttime cap
- 50 dBA Leq (10pm-7am)
- Industrial/manufacturing cap
- 70 dBA Leq, anytime
- Speech/music penalty
- Minus 5 dB adjustment
Summary
Hawthorne sets numeric exterior noise ceilings by land-use type and time of day: 60 dBA daytime and 50 dBA nighttime for residential receivers, 65/60 dBA for commercial, and 70 dBA at any time for manufacturing or industrial zones.
Except as provided for in this chapter, no person shall, at any location within the city, create any noise or allow the creation of any noise on property owned, leased, occupied or otherwise controlled by such person, which causes the energy-equivalent noise level (Leq, dBA) to exceed the noise standards established in subsection A of this section for the receiving land use type...Residential 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 60 65; 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 50 55. Commercial 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 65 70; 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 60 65. Manufacturing or Industrial Anytime 70 75.
Full Breakdown
030 prohibits creating any noise that causes the energy-equivalent noise level (Leq, dBA) to exceed the standards in Table N-1 for the receiving land use where the measurement is taken. m. Commercial property is capped at 65 dBA Leq (70 dBA 5-minute) daytime and 60 dBA Leq (65 dBA 5-minute) nighttime. Manufacturing or industrial property is capped at 70 dBA Leq (75 dBA 5-minute) at any time. Two adjustments apply: if the ambient noise level already exceeds the table limit at the time of a complaint, the ambient level itself becomes the standard, and the allowable level is reduced by five dB for impulsive, simple-tone, speech, or music noise.
Where the source and receiving parcels are different land-use types, the maximum for the receiving parcel is the average of the two applicable standards. 050 at least four feet from the nearest wall, ceiling or floor.
Violations & Fines
Violations are enforced by the noise control officer under § 9.34.100 with a written notice specifying the exceedance and a correction deadline; if the condition persists after that deadline, the violation becomes an infraction carrying a $250 fine for the first violation and an additional $250 for each further day the infraction continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum noise level allowed near a Hawthorne home at night?
Are industrial zones held to the same noise limit as residential zones?
Does loud music get treated differently than mechanical noise?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hawthorne
California rules heatmap·Compare Hawthorne to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle decibel limits.