Los Angeles noise rules at a glance
- Governing code: Los Angeles Municipal Code, Chapter XI (Noise Regulation)
- Quiet hours: 10:00 PM – 7:00 AM
- How violations are judged: Mixed standard
- Construction: Construction noise is restricted overnight and on Sundays and holidays
- Complaints: LAPD non-emergency / MyLA311
How Los Angeles decides what counts as too loud
Los Angeles compares the measured level against the ambient noise level for the zone, with a presumed minimum ambient where actual background is very low.
Noise limits in Los Angeles
| Applies to | Daytime | Night |
|---|---|---|
| Residential property (relative to ambient) | More than 5 dBA above ambient is a violation | More than 5 dBA above ambient, with lower presumed ambient at night |
| Powered equipment | 75 dBA at 50 ft for most powered equipment | Restricted |
What's specific to Los Angeles
- Sound audible more than 150 ft from the property line within (or within 500 ft of) a residential zone is separately actionable.
- The code sets presumed minimum ambient levels, so a genuinely quiet street does not get an artificially low threshold.
What Los Angeles residents most often report
- Amplified party and event noise, handled by LAPD non-emergency rather than 311.
- Leaf blowers and landscaping equipment, which have their own restrictions in residential zones.
- Construction and powered equipment measured against the 75 dBA equipment standard.
How to measure it in Los Angeles
Measure at your property line facing the source, and record the ambient level when the source stops. The code presumes a minimum ambient for the zone, so if your street is genuinely quiet you are not penalised for it. For a distant but persistent noise, also note whether it is audible more than 150 ft from the source's property line.
Record levels with the free online decibel meter, and log the date, start time and duration with each reading. A phone microphone is accurate to roughly ±2 dB and is not a calibrated instrument — enough to establish a pattern, not enough for an enforcement hearing.
Penalties in Los Angeles
Violations of Chapter XI are misdemeanours; enforcement is typically by citation.
How to file a noise complaint in Los Angeles
Ongoing party and amplified-sound complaints go to LAPD non-emergency. Persistent equipment or construction noise goes through MyLA311.
Sources
Municipal codes are amended regularly and enforcement practice varies by neighbourhood and agency. This page summarises the code as of 2026-08-02 and is not legal advice — confirm against the linked code before relying on any figure, and consult a lawyer for a dispute.
Noise ordinances in other metros
See all US metro noise ordinances or read how many decibels is too loud.