Santa Clarita, CA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential limit, day
- 65 dB
- Residential limit, night
- 55 dB
- Commercial/manufacturing limit, day
- 80 dB
- Commercial/manufacturing limit, night
- 70 dB
- Day/night cutoff
- 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.
- Repetitive/whine correction
- Minus 5 dB
Summary
Santa Clarita caps noise reaching a neighboring property at 65 dB in residential zones during the day and 55 dB at night, versus 80 dB day and 70 dB night in commercial and manufacturing zones. Repetitive or brief noise gets a decibel correction up or down, and enforcement runs through the Sheriff's Department as a misdemeanor or infraction.
It shall be unlawful for any person within the City to produce or cause or allow to be produced noise which is received on property occupied by another person within the designated region, in excess of the following levels, except as expressly provided otherwise herein: Region: Residential zone, Time: Day, Sound Level dB: 65. Region: Residential zone, Time: Night, Sound Level dB: 55. Region: Commercial and manufacturing, Time: Day, Sound Level dB: 80. Region: Commercial and manufacturing, Time: Night, Sound Level dB: 70. At the boundary line between a residential property and a commercial and manufacturing property, the noise level of the quieter zone shall be used.
Full Breakdown
), while commercial and manufacturing zones allow 80 dB by day and 70 dB by night. " Subsection (B) then layers corrections onto those base numbers: repetitive impulsive noise or a steady whine, screech or hum gets a 5 dB downward correction, meaning it's judged against a tighter limit, while noise that only occurs for 5 to 15 minutes an hour during the day gets a 5 dB allowance, noise occurring 1 to 5 minutes an hour gets a 10 dB allowance, and noise occurring less than a minute an hour gets a 20 dB allowance. 030. 130.
Violations & Fines
Section 11.44.110 makes any violation of Chapter 11.44 a misdemeanor unless the Municipal Code classifies it as an infraction or an officer cites it as one, and each day the exceedance continues is a separate offense under § 1.01.230. A noisy operation can also be declared a public nuisance and abated by court injunction under §§ 11.44.110(C) and 11.44.120.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the residential noise limit at night in Santa Clarita?
Are commercial and manufacturing zones allowed louder noise than residential zones?
Does a brief noise, like a delivery truck backing up, count as a violation?
How does the City measure whether noise exceeds the limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clarita
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clarita 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.