Sunnyvale Chapter 19.48 sets exterior noise limits of 60 dBA day and 50 dBA night for residential, 65 dBA for commercial, and 70 dBA for industrial, measured at the receiving property line.
Sunnyvale uses objective decibel standards rather than subjective nuisance tests for most noise enforcement. Under Municipal Code Chapter 19.48 the daytime limits measured at the receiving property line are 60 dBA residential, 65 dBA commercial, and 70 dBA industrial. Nighttime limits (10 PM to 7 AM weekdays, 10 PM to 8 AM weekends) drop to 50, 60, and 65 dBA respectively. Short-duration impulsive sounds such as hammering or a generator startup are evaluated against adjusted higher thresholds. Tonal noise like a whining fan or pure-frequency alarm carries a penalty of 5 dBA in the analysis. Sunnyvale Code Enforcement uses Type 2 sound level meters and logs measurements over a 15-minute sample. When noise originates on one side of a zone boundary and is received on a more restrictive side, the stricter receiving-zone limit applies.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Sunnyvale, CA
Street parking in Sunnyvale is governed by SMC Title 10 and California Vehicle Code. The 72-hour rule (CVC 22651(k)) applies, and posted permit zones restric...
Sunnyvale, CA
Sunnyvale driveway construction and use are governed by SMC Title 19 zoning and Title 16 encroachment rules. Blocking sidewalks or the public right-of-way is...
Sunnyvale, CA
RVs, trailers, and boats over 6 feet tall or 22 feet long are restricted on Sunnyvale streets under SMC Title 10. Short-term loading is allowed with limits; ...
Sunnyvale, CA
Sunnyvale enforces abandoned vehicle removal through SMC Title 10 and CVC 22651(k) and 22669. Vehicles left over 72 hours on public streets or inoperable on ...
Sunnyvale, CA
Sunnyvale allows overnight street parking on most residential streets subject to the 72-hour rule. Permit Parking Districts require a valid permit overnight.
Sunnyvale, CA
Sunnyvale supports residential EV charging through streamlined permitting under AB 1236 and new construction EV-ready requirements in CALGreen. Commercial EV...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Santa Clara County.
See how other cities in Santa Clara County handle decibel limits.
See how Sunnyvale's decibel limits rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.