Placentia, CA Short-Term Rentals: Noise Rules (2026)

Section 6.45.110 of the Placentia Municipal Code makes it unlawful for any owner, occupant, renter, lessee or person in charge of a short-term rental to make or continue any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise that disturbs the peace and quiet of a neighborhood or causes discomfort or annoyance to a reasonable person of normal sensitiveness living in the area. The test is the city's general noise law, Chapter 10.32 (Noise) and Chapter 23.76 (Noise Control). Sound amplification, inside or outside the short-term rental, is prohibited outright.

Chapter 23.76 supplies the numbers. All residential property is Noise Zone 1, with a limit of 55 dB(A) from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 50 dB(A) from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Where the noise consists entirely of impact noise, simple tone noise, speech, music, or any combination of them, each level is reduced by 5 dB(A). Under Section 23.76.050(b), a violation occurs when noise measured on other property exceeds the standard for a cumulative period of more than thirty minutes in any hour, the standard plus five dB(A) for more than fifteen minutes, plus ten dB(A) for more than five minutes, plus fifteen dB(A) for more than one minute, or plus twenty dB(A) for any period of time.

The rental rules reinforce this. Section 6.45.070(c) requires the owner or managing agent to notify the responsible person of the city's noise standards in Chapter 23.76 before occupancy and to post that notice in the dwelling. Section 6.45.060 requires a local contact person available by telephone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, who must respond within one hour and satisfactorily correct the problem. Section 6.45.040(a) bars use of the rental for weddings, receptions and large parties attended by more than the occupants. A police report concluding that a violation occurred can go to code enforcement for an administrative citation under Section 6.45.170.