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San Diego County · Building on your lot

Noise and construction hours in San Diego County

Construction equipment is allowed 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. except on Sundays and holidays; emergency work is excepted.

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Key points

  • Construction hours: Construction equipment is allowed 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. except on Sundays and holidays; emergency work is excepted.

Each rule below links to the section of the San Diego County Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What San Diego County's code says

San Diego County code What San Diego County's code adds
Construction hours on weekdays
  • 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    Applies: Construction equipment on days other than Sundays and holidays; emergency work excepted.
    § 36.408 · code text
    Except for emergency work, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate or cause to be operated, construction equipment:
Construction hours on weekends and holidays
  • Not allowed on Sundays or holidays, except 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for unpaid work at your own home.
    Applies: Construction equipment; emergency work excepted.
    § 36.408 · code text
    (b) On a Sunday or a holiday.
Noise limit at homes
  • 50 dBA one-hour average, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
    Applies: RS, RD, RR, RMH, A70, A72, S80, S81, S90, S92, RV and RU zones under 10.9 units per acre.
    § 36.404 · code text
    | (1) RS, RD, RR, RMH, A70, A72, S80, S81, S90, S92, RV, and RU with a General Plan Land Use Designation density of less than 10.9 dwelling units per acre. | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. | 50 |
  • 45 dBA one-hour average, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
    Applies: RS, RD, RR, RMH, A70, A72, S80, S81, S90, S92, RV and RU zones under 10.9 units per acre.
    § 36.404 · code text
    | (1) RS, RD, RR, RMH, A70, A72, S80, S81, S90, S92, RV, and RU with a General Plan Land Use Designation density of less than 10.9 dwelling units per acre. | 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. | 45 |
  • 55 dBA one-hour average, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
    Applies: RRO, RC, RM, S86, FB-V5, RV and RU zones with 10.9 or more units per acre.
    § 36.404 · code text
    | (2) RRO, RC, RM, S86, FB-V5, RV and RU with a General Plan Land Use Designation density of 10.9 or more dwelling units per acre. | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. | 55 |
  • 50 dBA one-hour average, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
    Applies: RRO, RC, RM, S86, FB-V5, RV and RU zones with 10.9 or more units per acre.
    § 36.404 · code text
    | (2) RRO, RC, RM, S86, FB-V5, RV and RU with a General Plan Land Use Designation density of 10.9 or more dwelling units per acre. | 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. | 50 |
  • 60 dBA one-hour average, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    Applies: FB-V1, FB-V2, RM-V1 and RM-V2 zones.
    § 36.404 · code text
    | (4) FB-V1, FB-V2, RM-V1, RM-V2 | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | 60 |
  • 55 dBA one-hour average, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
    Applies: FB-V1, FB-V2, RM-V1 and RM-V2 zones.
    § 36.404 · code text
    | (4) FB-V1, FB-V2, RM-V1, RM-V2 | 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. | 55 |
  • 55 dBA one-hour average, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
    Applies: FB-V1 and RM-V2 zones.
    § 36.404 · code text
    | FB-V1, RM-V2 | 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. | 55 |
  • 50 dBA one-hour average, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
    Applies: FB-V2 and RM-V1 zones.
    § 36.404 · code text
    | FB-V2, RM-V1 | 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. | 50 |
  • 70 dBA one-hour average, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
    Applies: FB-V3 zone.
    § 36.404 · code text
    | FB-V3 | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. | 70 |
  • 65 dBA one-hour average, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
    Applies: FB-V3 zone.
    § 36.404 · code text
    | FB-V3 | 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. | 65 |
  • 82 dBA maximum for impulse noise.
    Applies: At occupied residential, village or civic property, in no more than 25% of minutes measured; not emergency or public road work.
    § 36.410 · code text
    | Residential, village zoning or civic use | 82 |

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

What are the noise rules and construction hours in San Diego County?

Construction equipment is allowed 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. except on Sundays and holidays; emergency work is excepted.

General information, not legal advice.

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