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Alameda County · Building on your lot

Noise and construction hours in Alameda County

Alameda County'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 Alameda County Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Alameda County's code says

Alameda County code What Alameda County's code adds
Leaf blowers and equipment
  • On weekdays, no use from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. if plainly heard 50 feet away.
    Applies: Leaf blowers, mowers, trimmers and similar powered tools in residential areas; not in the East County Area Plan area or outside the urban growth boundary.
    § 6.60.050 · code text
    Operation or use in residential areas between the hours of seven p.m. and seven a.m. on a weekday or between the hours of seven p.m. and eight a.m. on a weekend, of any electric or gasoline powered leaf blower, sweeper, vacuum, lawn mower, trimmer, edger, hedger or similar tool or device which produces sound which is plainly audible at a distance of fifty (50) feet from such device.
  • On weekends, no use from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. if plainly heard 50 feet away.
    Applies: Leaf blowers, mowers, trimmers and similar powered tools in residential areas; not in the East County Area Plan area or outside the urban growth boundary.
    § 6.60.050 · code text
    Operation or use in residential areas between the hours of seven p.m. and seven a.m. on a weekday or between the hours of seven p.m. and eight a.m. on a weekend, of any electric or gasoline powered leaf blower, sweeper, vacuum, lawn mower, trimmer, edger, hedger or similar tool or device which produces sound which is plainly audible at a distance of fifty (50) feet from such device.
Noise limit at homes
  • 50 dB(A) in the daytime, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
    Applies: At residential property, Category 1: may not be exceeded for a total of 30 minutes in any hour.
    § 6.60.040 · code text
    | 1 | 30 | 50 | 45 |
  • 45 dB(A) at night, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
    Applies: At residential property, Category 1: may not be exceeded for a total of 30 minutes in any hour.
    § 6.60.040 · code text
    | 1 | 30 | 50 | 45 |
  • 55 dB(A) in the daytime, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
    Applies: At residential property, Category 2: may not be exceeded for a total of 15 minutes in any hour.
    § 6.60.040 · code text
    | 2 | 15 | 55 | 50 |
  • 50 dB(A) at night, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
    Applies: At residential property, Category 2: may not be exceeded for a total of 15 minutes in any hour.
    § 6.60.040 · code text
    | 2 | 15 | 55 | 50 |
  • 60 dB(A) in the daytime, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
    Applies: At residential property, Category 3: may not be exceeded for a total of 5 minutes in any hour.
    § 6.60.040 · code text
    | 3 | 5 | 60 | 55 |
  • 55 dB(A) at night, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
    Applies: At residential property, Category 3: may not be exceeded for a total of 5 minutes in any hour.
    § 6.60.040 · code text
    | 3 | 5 | 60 | 55 |
  • 65 dB(A) in the daytime, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
    Applies: At residential property, Category 4: may not be exceeded for a total of 1 minute in any hour.
    § 6.60.040 · code text
    | 4 | 1 | 65 | 60 |
  • 60 dB(A) at night, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
    Applies: At residential property, Category 4: may not be exceeded for a total of 1 minute in any hour.
    § 6.60.040 · code text
    | 4 | 1 | 65 | 60 |
  • 70 dB(A) in the daytime, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., never to be exceeded.
    Applies: At residential property, Category 5.
    § 6.60.040 · code text
    | 5 | 0 | 70 | 65 |
  • 65 dB(A) at night, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., never to be exceeded.
    Applies: At residential property, Category 5.
    § 6.60.040 · code text
    | 5 | 0 | 70 | 65 |

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Alameda County?

Alameda County's code: 50 dB(A) in the daytime, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (At residential property, Category 1: may not be exceeded for a total of 30 minutes in any hour.) (§ 6.60.040); 45 dB(A) at night, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. (At residential property, Category 1: may not be exceeded for a total of 30 minutes in any hour.) (§ 6.60.040).

General information, not legal advice.

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