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Huntington Beach, CA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Quiet hours in Huntington Beach, 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 window
10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Duration trigger
Noise lasting over 5 minutes
Audibility test
Audible 50 feet from source
Delivery/loading rule
Barred within 200 ft of homes
Max misdemeanor penalty
$1,000 and/or 6 months jail

Summary

Huntington Beach bans any noise lasting more than five minutes between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. that is audible 50 feet or more from its source. The same nighttime window also restricts loud handling of boxes, crates and delivery equipment near homes.

Make or allow to be made any noise which continues for more than a five-minute period between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. if such noise is audible for 50 feet or more from the source of the noise.

Full Breakdown

window if it causes a noise disturbance across a noise-sensitive property line. 112(K) declares violations of the loud-noise section a nuisance per se. This nighttime curfew is distinct from the chapter's zone-based exterior dBA limits: it applies regardless of the underlying decibel reading, based purely on duration, timing, and audibility at 50 feet. 120 and may recover the City's cost of any noise-monitoring test from the violator.

Violations & Fines

Violating the 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. noise curfew is enforced as a misdemeanor or infraction under the Code's general penalty provisions, Municipal Code § 1.16.010, punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in jail for a misdemeanor, or escalating infraction fines of $100/$200/$500 for first, second, and later offenses within a year under § 1.16.040. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense under § 1.16.020.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time do quiet hours start in Huntington Beach?
10:00 p.m. Municipal Code § 8.40.112(B) prohibits any noise lasting more than five minutes between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. if it can be heard 50 feet or more from its source, regardless of the decibel level.
Does the nighttime noise rule cover trash pickup or deliveries?
Yes. Section 8.40.112(D) separately bars loading, unloading, or handling boxes, crates, or refuse within 200 feet of residences between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. when it causes a noise disturbance, covering commercial deliveries and vehicle idling or backup alarms.
Who enforces Huntington Beach's noise curfew?
The Director of Community Development or the Police Chief and their authorized representatives, under § 8.40.120, who can conduct noise monitoring and bill the property owner or noise source operator for the cost of that testing.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Huntington Beach

All Huntington Beach rules

How Huntington Beach compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·California rules heatmap·Compare Huntington Beach to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview

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