Long Beach noise ordinance: quiet hours and who to call

When are quiet hours in Long Beach?

Quiet hours: In residential areas the outdoor limit is 45 dBA from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and 50 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Music, speakers and power tools that disturb people across a property line are banned from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Construction: weekdays 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays only with a permit.
Right now: Checking the clock for Long Beach.
Who to call: Long Beach Noise Complaint Hotline: (562) 570-4126. For loud talking, yelling or vehicle noise, call Police non-emergency at (562) 435-6711. Emergencies: 911.
The law: Long Beach Municipal Code Chapter 8.80, Noise. Read the code

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We checked this against the city's code and website on November 2, 2026.

Long Beach's noise rules are Chapter 8.80 of the Long Beach Municipal Code. The chapter has decibel limits, a general nuisance rule and a list of specific bans. The City's Noise Monitoring office in the Health Department handles most complaints.

What is too loud in Long Beach?

It is unlawful to make "any loud, unnecessary, or unusual noise" that disturbs the peace and quiet of a neighborhood or bothers a reasonable person of normal sensitivity (§ 8.80.130). The code lists factors to weigh, such as how loud the noise is, the time of day, how long it lasts and how many people it affects.

The chapter also sets decibel limits. In District One, which is mostly residential, the outdoor limits are (§§ 8.80.150, 8.80.160):

10 p.m. to 7 a.m.: 45 dBA
7 a.m. to 10 p.m.: 50 dBA

Outdoors, a noise breaks the rule if it goes over the limit for more than 30 minutes in an hour. Shorter bursts count if they are louder: 5 dB over for more than 15 minutes, 10 dB over for more than 5 minutes, 15 dB over for more than 1 minute, or 20 dB over at any time (§ 8.80.150(B)). The limits drop by 5 dB for steady tones, repeated banging, or music and speech (§ 8.80.160).

Indoors, in a home, the limits are 35 dBA from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and 45 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. A noise breaks the indoor rule if it goes over the limit for more than 5 minutes in an hour, 5 dB over for more than 1 minute, or 10 dB over at any time (§ 8.80.170).

From 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., you can't play a radio, TV, stereo or instrument so it disturbs people across a residential or commercial property line (§ 8.80.200(A)(1)). A loudspeaker can't disturb people across a residential property line in those hours (§ 8.80.200(B)).

Barking dogs

It is unlawful to keep an animal or bird that makes noise "frequently or for continued duration" and creates a noise disturbance across a residential or commercial property line (§ 8.80.200(D)). The chapter gives no set number of minutes.

Construction and yard work

Construction that needs a building permit and disturbs people is limited to these hours (§ 8.80.202):

Weekdays and federal holidays: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sundays: not allowed unless a Sunday permit is issued, and then only 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Power tools like saws and drills can't be used from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. if they disturb people across a property line (§ 8.80.200(M)(1)). Leaf blowers have their own hours. They can't be used before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. on Saturday, or before 11 a.m. or after 5 p.m. on Sundays and holidays (§ 8.80.200(M)(3)). Loading and unloading trucks is banned from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. if it disturbs people across a property line (§ 8.80.200(E)).

How do I report noise in Long Beach?

The City's Noise Monitoring page lists the Noise Complaint Hotline at (562) 570-4126. For loud talking, yelling or vehicle noise, it says to call Police non-emergency at (562) 435-6711. For an emergency, call 911.

The code says the chapter is enforced only after a written complaint, signed under oath, from someone who lives in or owns property in the affected area (§ 8.80.370).

Fines and penalties

Police officers can enforce the construction rules. Breaking them is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500, up to 180 days in jail, or both. Each day is a separate offense (§ 8.80.202(F)). For other noise, a person who doesn't follow an order to stop the noise is guilty of a misdemeanor, with the same $500 and 180-day limits (§ 8.80.380).

Keeping a noise log

Long Beach requires a sworn written complaint, so a log of dates and times makes it easier to fill one out. 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.

Long Beach noise FAQ

What are the quiet hours in Long Beach?

In residential areas the outdoor limit is 45 dBA from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and 50 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Music, speakers and power tools that disturb people across a property line are banned from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Construction: weekdays 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays only with a permit.

Who do I call about a noisy neighbor in Long Beach?

Long Beach Noise Complaint Hotline: (562) 570-4126. For loud talking, yelling or vehicle noise, call Police non-emergency at (562) 435-6711. Emergencies: 911.

Where are Long Beach's noise rules?

Long Beach Municipal Code Chapter 8.80, Noise. There is a link to the official code at the top and bottom of this page.

What is the penalty for a noise violation in Long Beach?

Breaking the construction rules is a misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $500, up to 180 days in jail, or both. Each day is a separate offense. For other noise, the misdemeanor penalty applies after someone fails to follow an order to stop the noise.

Sources

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