Redwood City, CA Public Conduct: Loud Party Ordinance (2026)
Key Facts
- Excessive noise threshold
- More than 6 dB above ambient (§ 24.20)
- Covered hours
- 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. (§ 24.20)
- Trigger group size
- 3 or more persons (§ 24.20)
- Host liability
- Joint & several, after notice (§ 24.22)
- Litigation cost cap
- $15,000 (§ 24.22)
Summary
Redwood City treats party, dance or assemblage noise that's more than 6 dB above local ambient between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. as excessive under Sec. 24.20. After a written warning, hosts (or parents of minor hosts) who let it continue become personally liable for the City's police response costs under Sec. 24.22.
Noise levels, generated on or within any property between the hours of eight o'clock (8:00) P.M. and eight o'clock (8:00) A.M. by a party, dance, meeting or other assemblage of three (3) or more persons, which are more than six (6) dB above the local ambient measured at any point within a residential district of the City and outside the plane of said property... After a person has been given notice as hereinabove provided, and said person continues to suffer or allow the excessive and unreasonable noise to continue between the hours of eight o'clock (8:00) P.M. and eight o'clock (8:00) A.M., then such persons, or in the event that all or any of the foregoing persons are minors, the parents and/or guardians of such minors, shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire cost to the City of the following items:1.Any police response or responses to the incident, subsequent to the response at which notice was given.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Zoning Code: Supplement 29 | City Code: Supplement 61 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
m. 22 supplies the enforcement teeth. 21 if the noise continues. 00. The City Manager has discretion to reduce or compromise that debt. 21.
Violations & Fines
Continuing to allow party, dance or assemblage noise more than 6 dB above local ambient between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. after a written warning triggers joint and several liability under Section 24.22 for the City's police response, arrest, court-appearance and collection costs, capped at $15,000.00 for litigation costs; the underlying noise itself is separately citable under Section 24.21.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does party noise become illegal in Redwood City?
Can a party host be personally billed for police costs in Redwood City?
Does Redwood City warn before citing a loud party?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Redwood City
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