Hawthorne, CA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Hawthorne, CA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Violation threshold
- More than 5 dB over ambient
- Night ambient floor
- 50 dBA (10pm-7am)
- Day ambient floor
- 60 dBA (7am-10pm)
- Covered devices
- Radios, TVs, phonographs, instruments
Summary
Hawthorne bans running a radio, TV, stereo, or similar device in any residential zone between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. if it disturbs neighbors, and treats any noise over the property line that beats the ambient level by more than 5 decibels as automatic proof of a violation, under Hawthorne Code § 17.20.270(F)(1).
1. Radios, Television Sets and Similar Devices. It is unlawful for any person within any residential zone of the city to use or operate any radio receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph, television set or other machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound, between the hours of ten p.m. of one day and seven a.m. of the following day, in such a manner as to disturb the peace, quiet, and comfort of neighboring residents or any reasonable person of normal sensitivity residing in the area. Any noise exceeding the ambient noise level at the property line of any property or, in the case of a condominium or apartment house unit, within any adjoining apartment, by more than five decibels shall be deemed to be prima facie evidence of a violation of the provisions of this section.
Full Breakdown
20's development standards for all residential zones, and subsection F, "Special Noise Sources," covers everyday household noise complaints. in a manner that disturbs the peace, quiet, and comfort of neighboring residents or a reasonable person of normal sensitivity; noise exceeding the ambient level at the property line, or inside an adjoining condominium or apartment unit, by more than five decibels is deemed prima facie evidence of a violation. Under (F)(2), the same five-decibel-over-ambient standard applies at any hour to machinery, equipment, pumps, fans, and air-conditioning apparatus, except during emergency work.
, though if the actual measured ambient level is higher, that measured level controls instead. Measurements must use an A-weighted, slow-response sound level meter taken at the property line, no closer than three feet from any wall and at least three feet above the ground, averaged over at least three readings taken two minutes apart. 270(A)-(E)), but the nighttime device curfew and daytime machinery limit in (F) apply broadly across any residential zone, not just multifamily projects.
Violations & Fines
Violating the nighttime device curfew or the five-decibel machinery limit is enforceable under Hawthorne Code § 1.20.010 as a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or both, or the city attorney may instead charge it as an infraction or a civil administrative citation; each night the disturbance continues counts as a separate offense, and the source can also be treated as an abatable public nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Hawthorne's quiet hours for noise?
How is a noise violation proven in Hawthorne?
Is there a noise limit during the day too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hawthorne
How Hawthorne compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·California rules heatmap·Compare Hawthorne to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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Quiet Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle quiet hours.