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

Walnut Creek uses a permissive zoning code under Municipal Code Title 10, Chapter 2 (Zoning), and short-term rental is not enumerated as a permitted residential use. The practical effect, as confirmed by the Planning Division's intake guidance, is that residential leases must be for at least 31 days; rentals under that threshold are treated as an unpermitted hotel-type use. Because the city has no STR program, there is no STR-specific quiet-hours regime, no occupancy-based decibel cap, no dedicated guest-complaint hotline, and no STR permit that can be revoked for repeated noise complaints. General nuisance noise rules in Walnut Creek Municipal Code Chapter 4-6 (Nuisances), Article 2, still apply to every dwelling. Loud noise is defined as excessive or unreasonable noise, sound, or vibration that endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, or safety of others, judged by the hour, place, nature, and circumstances. Noise-creating commercial or residential landscaping or home maintenance equipment, including blowers, trimmers, mowers, chainsaws, hammers, and power fans, may only operate between 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM on weekdays and 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM on weekends and holidays. Noise complaints are handled by the Walnut Creek Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 943-5844, and the underlying unpermitted-rental use can be reported to the Planning Division at DutyPlanner@walnut-creek.org or (925) 256-3558.