Pleasanton, CA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential limit
- 60 dBA at the property plane, § 9.04.030
- Commercial limit
- 70 dBA at the property plane, § 9.04.040
- Industrial limit
- 75 dBA at the property plane, § 9.04.050
- Public-property limits
- 60/70/75 dBA at 25 ft, § 9.04.060
- Measurement standard
- A-weighted (dBA), slow response meter
Summary
Pleasanton sets hard dBA ceilings by zoning: 60 dBA at the property line for residential uses, 70 dBA for commercial, and 75 dBA for industrial, measured with an A-weighted precision sound level meter under Chapter 9.04's noise regulations.
Residential Property. No person shall produce or allow to be produced by any machine, animal, device, or any combination of the same, on residential property, noise level in excess of 60 dBA at any point outside of the property plane, unless otherwise provided in this chapter. ... No person shall produce or allow to be produced by any machine, animal, device, or any combination of the same on commercial property, a noise level in excess of 70 dBA at any point outside of the property plane... on industrial property, a noise level in excess of 75 dBA at any point outside of the property plane.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4955754; v17 updated 2026-06-02).
Full Breakdown
Section 9.04.030(A) caps residential noise at "60 dBA at any point outside of the property plane," while § 9.04.030(B) applies the same 60 dBA ceiling inside a neighboring unit of multi-family housing, measured at least four feet from any wall, floor or ceiling with windows and doors closed; distribution transformers get a separate 25-foot or nearest-structure measurement point under § 9.04.030(C). Section 9.04.040 raises the limit to 70 dBA at the property plane for commercial property, and § 9.04.050 sets 75 dBA for industrial property.
Section 9.04.060 mirrors these tiers for noise on public property, measured at 25 feet: 60 dBA in residential areas, 70 dBA in commercial areas, and 75 dBA in industrial areas, with an exemption for approved community and special events. The city's noise level meter must use "the 'A' weighting scale" with response set to "slow," per the definitions in § 9.04.020, and readings are taken at the property plane, the vertical boundary plane along the property line. A downtown-specific overlay in § 9.04.043 sets its own tiered limits (up to 74 dBA daytime, down to 60-70 dBA at night) for the hospitality central core and transition areas, which supersedes the general commercial figure there.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 9.04, Noise Regulations, is designated an infraction chapter under Pleasanton Municipal Code § 1.12.020: a first violation of a decibel limit draws a fine up to $100, a second within 12 months up to $200, and a third up to $500, with a fourth violation of the same ordinance in that period charged as a misdemeanor carrying the general penalty of up to $1,000 or six months in county jail under § 1.12.010.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum noise level allowed in a Pleasanton residential zone?
Are commercial and industrial noise limits higher than residential in Pleasanton?
How is noise measured for enforcement in Pleasanton?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pleasanton
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle decibel limits.