Whittier, CA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Unlike many California cities that publish a table of maximum permissible sound levels by zone and time, Whittier Municipal Code Chapter 8.32 (adopted by Ordinance No. 2943 in 2010) sets no decibel thresholds at all. WMC 8.32.030 makes it unlawful to make excessive or unreasonable noise that disturbs the peace of a neighborhood or annoys a reasonable person of normal sensitiveness, and it lists factors an officer may weigh - the level of noise, whether it is usual or unusual, the background noise level, proximity to sleeping areas, zoning, density, time of day, duration, and whether the noise is recurrent or constant. WMC 8.32.040 then enumerates specific prohibited noises (animals, vehicles, power tools, loudspeakers, radios, yelling, construction) and frequently uses a "plainly audible" trigger - for example, audible inside a neighboring residence, or 50 feet or 100 feet from a property boundary depending on the provision. WMC 8.32.060 confirms the enforcement method: detection is by the official's normal, unenhanced hearing faculties, and the officer need not identify words, song titles, or lyrics to establish a violation. Because there is no city decibel limit, a sound-meter reading is not required to cite a Whittier noise violation.