Huntington Beach Decibel Limits Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

HBMC Chapter 8.40 sets quantitative noise standards for the City of Huntington Beach, measured in A-weighted decibels (dBA) at or near the boundary of the affected property. For residential zones, the exterior noise standard is 55 dBA between 7 AM and 10 PM (daytime) and 50 dBA between 10 PM and 7 AM (nighttime). These limits are designed to protect the predominantly single-family and low-density residential character of most Huntington Beach neighborhoods while acknowledging the higher ambient levels found near Pacific Coast Highway, the downtown corridor, and the beach areas.

Commercial and mixed-use zones are held to a higher threshold of 65 dBA daytime and 60 dBA nighttime, reflecting the greater tolerance for commercial activity in those areas. Industrial zones have correspondingly higher limits. When the measured ambient noise level at a given location already exceeds the applicable standard due to transportation or other pre-existing sources, the ambient level itself becomes the effective baseline, and a violation occurs only when the specific noise source causes a measurable increase above that ambient baseline.

Noise that contains clearly identifiable tonal components (such as a hum or whine), impulsive character (such as hammering or banging), or clearly audible music or speech content may be subject to a more stringent evaluation because these types of sounds are more intrusive and annoying than broadband noise at the same decibel level. The Huntington Beach Police Department responds to immediate noise complaints, while Code Enforcement handles chronic or commercial noise issues during business hours. Sound level meters may be deployed to document violations for citation purposes.