San Bernardino County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Noise Rules (2026)

Noise at unincorporated San Bernardino County short-term rentals is regulated under Development Code Section 84.28.070(h). It is unlawful for any owner, renter, occupant, or guest to make, cause, or allow - willfully or through failure to exercise control - any loud, excessive, impulsive, or intrusive noise that disturbs the peace or quiet or causes discomfort or annoyance to a reasonable person of normal sensitivities. Listed examples include yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling, singing, playing a musical instrument, amplified music or sound, and habitual barking, howling, or crowing of animals. Enforcement uses a 'reasonable person' standard, weighing factors such as the noise level, ambient background level, proximity to nearby homes, time of day or night, duration, whether it is constant or intermittent, and whether it comes from a device. The owner must take all lawful action to keep renters from creating a nuisance (Section 84.28.070(g)) and, under Section 84.28.070(f), must be available by phone 24 hours a day and able to be physically present within one hour to remedy complaints. The County operates a 24/7 STR complaint line and an Outdoor Noise Monitoring Program: installing an approved monitoring device (such as NoiseAware or Minut) is optional but earns a one-time $150 credit toward the permit fee. The chapter sets a behavioral 'disturb the peace' standard rather than a fixed decibel limit in the STR ordinance itself.