The Daly City noise ordinance, set out in Chapter 9.22 of the Municipal Code, prohibits noise that disturbs the public peace, bans audible noise crossing a property line between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, caps daytime sound levels by zoning district, restricts construction and power equipment to set hours, and starts civil fines at $1,500 for a first offense.1Daly City. Daly City Municipal Code – Offenses Against Public Peace
Quiet Hours Run From 10 PM to 6 AM
Section 9.22.030 sets the strictest rule in the chapter. Between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, you cannot create any noise on your property that can be heard beyond your property line, apartment, or living space.1Daly City. Daly City Municipal Code – Offenses Against Public Peace No decibel reading is needed. If a neighbor can hear it, it’s a violation.
A separate, broader provision in Section 9.22.010 applies around the clock. It prohibits anyone from making noise, or allowing noise on property they control, that disturbs the public peace.2Municode. Daly City Code of Ordinances That means a daytime disturbance can still be cited even if it falls within every other numerical limit.
Daytime Decibel Limits by Zone
During the day, the city uses objective sound-level limits measured in dBA, taken at the property line of the noise source. The baseline caps are:
- Residential zones: 55 dBA
- Commercial zones: 60 dBA
- Industrial zones: 70 dBA
Where the background noise in an area already exceeds the baseline, the allowable limit shifts to five decibels above that ambient level. A residential block near a freeway that already sits at 58 dBA has an effective cap of 63 dBA rather than 55. At night, residential limits drop another five decibels, putting a typical residential nighttime cap at 50 dBA on top of the audible-at-the-line rule.
Construction and Power Equipment Hours
Construction activity and power equipment use are confined to specific windows:
- Monday through Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Saturdays: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Sundays and legal holidays: prohibited
The rule covers professional contractors and ordinary residents alike, so lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and chainsaws fall under it. Power equipment also cannot exceed 85 dBA measured 25 feet from the source.1Daly City. Daly City Municipal Code – Offenses Against Public Peace
Loudspeakers and Amplified Sound Need a Permit
Section 9.22.020 requires written permission from the chief of police before you use any loudspeaker or sound amplifier that projects sound outside a building or outdoors.4Daly City. Daly City Municipal Code – Offenses Against Public Peace
The application must list the applicant’s name and address, the purpose for using the equipment, the specific time and location, and an expiration date.3Municode. Daly City Code of Ordinances Operating without the permit is a separate violation from the general noise rules.
What’s Exempt
Several categories of activity sit outside the standard limits:
- Emergency work by utility companies and city crews, such as repairs to water mains or downed power lines, at any hour
- Sirens and warning devices on police, fire, and medical vehicles responding to urgent calls
- Parades, festivals, and other city-sanctioned events, subject to the conditions on their event permits
- Routine public agency operations such as street sweeping and waste collection
Emergency work means genuinely urgent repairs, not routine maintenance that could be scheduled during normal hours.
How to Report a Noise Violation
For noise happening right now, call the Daly City Police Department’s non-emergency line at (650) 991-8119.5Daly City, CA. Contact DCPD This is the right number for a late-night party, Sunday construction, or any active disturbance. Responding officers usually begin with a warning.
For recurring problems, contact the Code Enforcement Division during business hours at (650) 991-8260 or codeenforcement@dalycity.org.6Daly City, CA. Code Enforcement A neighbor who runs power equipment every Sunday or a business that routinely exceeds the limits is better handled through this channel. Complaints can also be filed online through the city’s iHelp system.7Daly City, CA. Code Enforcement Process
Include the address of the noise source, a description of the sound, and how long it has been going on. Notes kept over multiple days strengthen a complaint.
Fines and Appeals
Civil fines are issued through administrative citations and escalate with repeat offenses:1Daly City. Daly City Municipal Code – Offenses Against Public Peace
- First violation: $1,500
- Second violation: $2,000
- Third or subsequent violation: substantially higher penalties
Each day a violation continues can be treated as a separate offense, so an unresolved problem over a week can generate multiple citations. The general disturbing-the-peace provision in Section 9.22.010 can also carry misdemeanor penalties for serious or willful violations beyond the civil fines.
If you receive a citation you believe was issued in error, Daly City has an administrative appeal process that starts with a written review and can escalate to an in-person hearing if the initial appeal is denied.