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Noise and construction hours in Santa Monica

Santa Monica's own rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text for every value.

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

What Santa Monica's code says

Santa Monica code What Santa Monica's code adds
Construction hours on weekdays
  • 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Applies: Monday through Friday citywide; work louder than the noise limits only 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; a public-interest permit may allow other times.
    § 4.12.110 · code text
    Before eight a.m. or after six p.m. on Monday through Friday
Construction hours on weekends and holidays
  • 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    Applies: Saturday; a permit may allow other times when in the public interest.
    § 4.12.110 · code text
    Before nine a.m. or after five p.m. on Saturday
  • Not allowed all day.
    Applies: Sunday; a permit may allow work when in the public interest.
    § 4.12.110 · code text
    All day on Sunday
  • Not allowed all day.
    Applies: New Year's, Martin Luther King's Birthday, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas; permits possible in the public interest.
    § 4.12.110 · code text
    All day on New Year's Day, Martin Luther King's Birthday, President's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
Noise limit at homes
  • 50 dBA.
    Applies: Noise Zone I, Monday to Friday, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.; measured over 15 continuous minutes.
    § 4.12.060 · code text
    10 p.m. to 7 a.m.: 50 dBA
  • 60 dBA.
    Applies: Noise Zone I, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; measured over 15 continuous minutes.
    § 4.12.060 · code text
    7 a.m. to 10 p.m.: | 60 dBA
  • 50 dBA.
    Applies: Noise Zone I, Saturday and Sunday, 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.; measured over 15 continuous minutes.
    § 4.12.060 · code text
    10 p.m. to 8 a.m.: | 50 dBA
  • 60 dBA.
    Applies: Noise Zone I, Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; measured over 15 continuous minutes.
    § 4.12.060 · code text
    8 a.m. to 10 p.m.: | 60 dBA
  • 60 dBA.
    Applies: Noise Zone II, every day, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.; measured over 15 continuous minutes.
    § 4.12.060 · code text
    10 p.m. to 7 a.m.: | 60 dBA
  • 65 dBA.
    Applies: Noise Zone II, every day, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; measured over 15 continuous minutes.
    § 4.12.060 · code text
    7 a.m. to 10 p.m. | 65 dBA
  • 70 dBA.
    Applies: Noise Zone III, any time; measured over 15 continuous minutes.
    § 4.12.060 · code text
    III | Anytime | 70 dBA

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Santa Monica?

Santa Monica's code: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Monday through Friday citywide; work louder than the noise limits only 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; a public-interest permit may allow other times.) (§ 4.12.110); 50 dBA. (Noise Zone I, Monday to Friday, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.; measured over 15 continuous minutes.) (§ 4.12.060).

General information, not legal advice.

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Ask GoCodebook how Santa Monica's noise and construction hours rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

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Santa Monica Municipal Code — full text