Home / Cities / California / Bakersfield

Bakersfield noise ordinance: rules and who to call

Bakersfield's noise rules are Chapter 9.22 of the Bakersfield Municipal Code. The rule for noisy animals is in Chapter 6.04. The chapter has no decibel limits for homes. It uses a general rule and a list of factors instead.

What is too loud in Bakersfield?

It is unlawful to willfully make, or allow, "any loud, unnecessary noise" that disturbs the peace of a neighborhood or bothers people living within 1,000 feet of the source (§ 9.22.030(A)). The code lists factors that can be weighed (§ 9.22.030(B)):

• How loud the noise is, and how loud the background noise is
• How close it is to places where people sleep
• The zoning and how crowded the area is
• The time of day or night
• How long it lasts, and whether it is constant or comes and goes

Sound from a car stereo can't be heard more than 50 feet from the car. If the car is off the street, the 50 feet is measured from the property line (§ 9.22.140).

Barking dogs

No one may keep an animal or bird whose "sound or cry" unreasonably disturbs the peace of a neighborhood or interferes with anyone's reasonable enjoyment of life or property (§ 6.04.230(A)). Each day it continues is a separate violation. The chief of police receives and investigates these complaints (§ 6.04.230(B)). The code gives no set number of minutes.

Construction and yard work

Building, demolition, repair, grading and excavation are allowed only from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends (§ 9.22.050(A)). This limit does not apply to work 1,000 feet or more from the nearest home, or to emergency work (§ 9.22.050(C)–(D)). Chapter 9.22 has no separate hours for lawn mowers or leaf blowers.

How do I report noise in Bakersfield?

The City's police page lists the Bakersfield Police non-emergency line as (661) 327-7111. For an emergency, call 911. If City enforcement staff respond to the same property more than once in 30 days for noise, the owner can be charged a service fee on top of any penalty (§ 9.22.060).

Fines and penalties

A noisy animal violation is an infraction, with a fine of up to $100 for a first violation, up to $200 for a second within a year, and up to $500 for each one after that within a year (§ 6.04.270(B)).

For other noise violations, Chapter 9.22 uses the general penalty in Chapter 1.40. A violation can be handled as an infraction, a misdemeanor or an administrative citation (§ 1.40.010(A)). Infraction fines are up to $50, then $100, then $250 within a year. A misdemeanor carries a fine of up to $1,000 or as state law sets, up to six months in jail, or both. Each day is a separate offense (§ 1.40.010). Administrative fines are $100, then $500, then $1,000 within 12 months (§ 1.40.030).

Keeping a noise log

Bakersfield's rule turns on factors like time of day and how long the noise lasts, so write those down each time. The Noisy Neighbor iPhone app logs each incident with the date, time, length and an estimated decibel level. It exports a PDF report. Phone readings are estimates.

Sources

• Bakersfield Municipal Code Chapter 9.22, Noise
• Bakersfield Municipal Code § 6.04.230, Keeping noisy animals
• Bakersfield Municipal Code Chapter 1.40, Violation and penalty
• City of Bakersfield: Police Department

Last checked November 2, 2026. Laws change, so check the official code before you act. This is not legal advice.