Tustin City Code Section 4614 sets exterior dB(A) limits by noise zone: residential 55 day / 50 night, commercial 60 any time, industrial 70 any time, special uses (schools/hospitals/churches) 55, and mixed-use 60. Section 4615 adds interior limits of 55 day / 45 night. Music, speech, impact and simple-tone noise cut every limit by 5 dB(A).
Tustin is one of the relatively few cities with a fully quantified decibel ordinance rather than a vague nuisance standard. Section 4613 assigns five noise zones (1 residential, 2 commercial, 3 industrial, 4 special uses such as hospitals/schools/libraries/churches, 5 mixed-use). Section 4614's exterior table sets: Zone 1 at 55 dB(A) (7 a.m.-10 p.m.) and 50 dB(A) (10 p.m.-7 a.m.); Zone 2 at 60 dB(A) any time; Zone 3 at 70 dB(A) any time; Zone 4 at 55 dB(A) any time; Zone 5 at 60 dB(A) any time. Section 4615's interior standards for residential and residential mixed-use are 55 dB(A) day and 45 dB(A) night. For impact noise, simple-tone noise, speech or music, every limit is reduced 5 dB(A). The standards are not instantaneous caps; Section 4614(b) allows the base limit for up to 30 minutes per hour, +5 dB(A) for 15 minutes, +10 dB(A) for 5 minutes, +15 dB(A) for 1 minute, and bars any exceedance of +20 dB(A). Section 4620 requires measurement with an ANSI Type 1 or Type 2 sound level meter; exterior readings are taken at any point on the affected property, and interior readings at least 4 feet from the nearest wall, ceiling or floor.
Exceeding these standards for the stated durations is a misdemeanor under Section 4625, with each day a separate offense. Air-conditioning and refrigeration noise had a one-year +8 dB(A) grace allowance for units predating Ordinance 828 (Section 4619).
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