Industrial and commercial noise in Berkeley is limited to 65 dB daytime and 55 dB nighttime at adjacent residential property lines under BMC 13.40, with BAAQMD Reg 5 supplementing state rules.
Berkeley Municipal Code 13.40.040 establishes strict limits on industrial and commercial noise when measured at adjacent residential property lines: 65 dBA during daytime and 55 dBA during nighttime quiet hours. West Berkeley manufacturing zones and the waterfront industrial area must comply. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Regulation 5 also addresses certain operational noise sources. Businesses operating compressors, HVAC rooftop units, or loading docks near residential boundaries frequently face citations and must install sound attenuation. Berkeley Code Enforcement can require acoustic studies and corrective action plans for chronic offenders.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Alameda County.
See how other cities in Alameda County handle industrial noise.
See how Berkeley's industrial noise rules stack up against other locations.
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