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Noise and construction hours in Del Mar

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

What Del Mar's code says

Del Mar code What Del Mar's code adds
Construction hours on weekdays
  • 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
    Applies: Monday through Friday.
    § 9.20.050 · code text
    No construction work shall be performed before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday.
Construction hours on weekends and holidays
  • 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
    Applies: Saturday.
    § 9.20.050 · code text
    No construction work shall be performed before 9:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.
  • No construction work allowed.
    Applies: Sundays and City holidays. A person may do their own non-profit work on their own property, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    § 9.20.050 · code text
    No construction work shall be performed on Sundays or City holidays.
Noise limit at homes
  • 50 decibels, 1-hour average. Noise lasting no more than 30 minutes in an hour may be 3 decibels higher.
    Applies: Zones R1-5, R1-5B, R1-10, R1-10B, R-2, R1-14, R1-40, RM-East, RM-West, RM-Central, RM-South, OS Overlay; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Shorter noise may be louder.
    § 9.20.040 · code text
    | 1. R1-5, R1-5B, R1-10, R1-10B, R-2, R1-14, R1-40, RM-East, RM-West, RM-Central, RM-South, OS Overlay | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. | 50 40 |
  • 40 decibels, 1-hour average. Noise lasting no more than 30 minutes in an hour may be 3 decibels higher.
    Applies: Zones R1-5, R1-5B, R1-10, R1-10B, R-2, R1-14, R1-40, RM-East, RM-West, RM-Central, RM-South, OS Overlay; 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Shorter noise may be louder.
    § 9.20.040 · code text
    | 1. R1-5, R1-5B, R1-10, R1-10B, R-2, R1-14, R1-40, RM-East, RM-West, RM-Central, RM-South, OS Overlay | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. | 50 40 |
  • 60 decibels, 1-hour average. Noise lasting no more than 30 minutes in an hour may be 3 decibels higher.
    Applies: RR zone, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Shorter noise may be louder.
    § 9.20.040 · code text
    | 3. RR | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. | 60 55 |
  • 55 decibels, 1-hour average. Noise lasting no more than 30 minutes in an hour may be 3 decibels higher.
    Applies: RR zone, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Shorter noise may be louder.
    § 9.20.040 · code text
    | 3. RR | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. | 60 55 |
  • Construction may not cause an hourly average sound level over 75 decibels.
    Applies: On property zoned or used for residential purposes.
    § 9.20.050 · code text
    Construction activity shall not cause an hourly average sound level greater than 75 decibels on property zoned or used for residential purposes.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Del Mar?

Del Mar's code: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Monday through Friday.) (§ 9.20.050); 50 decibels, 1-hour average. Noise lasting no more than 30 minutes in an hour may be 3 decibels higher. (Zones R1-5, R1-5B, R1-10, R1-10B, R-2, R1-14, R1-40, RM-East, RM-West, RM-Central, RM-South, OS Overlay; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Shorter noise may be louder.) (§ 9.20.040).

General information, not legal advice.

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