A noisy neighbor may create a disturbance by having a loud television, stereo or radio. There is no formal time at which noise becomes illegal. We enforce California Penal Code section 415. This section of the penal codes provides that noise is illegal when “any person…maliciously and willfully disturbs another person by loud and unreasonable noise”.
Since no time frame is specified within this section it means that any person’s peace can be disturbed at any time of day they consider their peace to be disturbed by unreasonable noise, whether 2 a.m. or 2 p.m. The unreasonableness of the noise is an important and necessary requirement of an actual violation of Penal Code section 415.
If this is occurring you should call the Irvine Police Department at 949-724-7200 to report it.
You may be asked if you wish to sign a complaint. In effect, you are being asked if you will sign a citizen’s arrest for disturbance of the peace. Under California law, a police officer’s peace cannot be disturbed. A police officer observing a social gathering and hearing loud music cannot enforce Penal Code 415 without a citizen who has reported this gathering to be disturbing their peace.
To allow us the authority to arrest the offending party we must have a victim who has identified himself or herself to us, and is willing to make the citizen’s arrest for this section. Even if you do not wish to do so, you will still be asked for your name, address and phone number, for our information only.
Property Maintenance Noise Irvine Municipal Code section 6-8-205B prohibits noise of maintenance of real property from 7 p.m.-7 a.m. on any day except Sundays. On Sundays and Federal holidays property maintenance noise is restricted between the hours of 6 p.m.-9 a.m. Call the Irvine Police Department if you observe violations of this section.
Leaf Blower Noise
Irvine Municipal code section 6-8-205.C.2C requires leaf blowers to be tested and certified to be below 70 decibels before they can be used within the City. Certified blowers are restricted from use 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. on weekdays and 5 p.m.-9 a.m. on Saturdays. Leaf blowers are not allowed to operate at any time on Sundays. Call 949-724-6326 to register and certify leaf blowers for use, or to report companies using leaf blowers in violation.
City of Irvine 1 Civic Center Plaza Irvine, CA 92606-5207 Phone: 949-724-6000 Hours of Operation:
Mon.- Thur. 7:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
