Salinas, CA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential limit
- 60 dBA CNEL at the property line
- Commercial/mixed use limit
- 65 dBA CNEL
- Agricultural/industrial/parks limit
- 70 dBA CNEL
- Nighttime residential reduction
- 5.0 dBA lower, 9 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Delivery hours near homes
- 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. only
Summary
Salinas caps ambient noise at the property line under Municipal Code Sec. 37-50.180(a) and Table 37-50.50, with limits ranging from 60 dBA CNEL in residential and public/semipublic zones to 70 dBA in agricultural, industrial, and parks/open space zones. Residential limits drop 5 dBA between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., and brief noise spikes get limited extra allowance.
(a)Noise. No use shall create ambient noise levels which exceed the following standards (see Table 37-50.50), as measured at the property boundary:(1)Duration and Timing. The noise standards in Table 37-50.50 shall be modified as follows to account for the effects of time and duration on the impact of noise levels:(A)In residential zones, the noise standard shall be 5.0 dBA lower between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.(B)Noise that is produced for no more than a cumulative period of five minutes in any hour may exceed the standards above by 5.0 dBA. Table 37-50.50 Maximum Noise Standards Zone of Property Receiving Noise Maximum Noise Level (CNEL, dBA)
Agricultural District 70 dBA Residential Districts 60 dBA Commercial Districts 65 dBA Industrial Districts 70 dBA Mixed Use Districts 65 dBA (A) Parks/Open Space Districts 70 dBA Public/Semipublic District 60 dBA
Full Breakdown
Sec. 50 as measured at the property boundary. The table sets a ceiling of 70 dBA CNEL for agricultural, industrial, and parks/open space districts, 65 dBA for commercial and mixed use districts, and 60 dBA for residential and public/semipublic districts; mixed use buildings with residential units also carry an interior cap of 45 dBA from exterior ambient noise. 0 dBA over. 4-1979 type 1 or type 2 standards, calibrated at the time of each measurement. The city planner can require an acoustic study, at the applicant's expense, for any project with the potential to exceed these standards, and can require noise attenuation measures to bring a project into compliance. 50 limits. Sporting events and city-permitted special events are exempt from these noise standards.
Violations & Fines
A use that exceeds the Table 37-50.50 noise limits is a Zoning Code violation the city planner can require to be mitigated with attenuation measures or an acoustic study. Continued noncompliance is enforceable under the general penalty in Sec. 1-01.08, up to $1,000 and six months in jail as a misdemeanor or up to $500 as an infraction, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum noise level allowed at my property line in Salinas?
Are nighttime noise limits stricter in Salinas?
When can commercial deliveries happen near Salinas homes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salinas
California rules heatmap·Compare Salinas to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.