HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 8.2 Proposed Amendments to the City's Noise Regulations
STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
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Agenda Item 8.2
DATE: February 3, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Colleen Tribby, City Manager
SUBJECT:
Proposed Amendments to the City's Noise Regulations
Prepared by: Jennifer Byous, Planning Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Council will receive a report and provide direction on the City's noise regulations and
potential amendments to the Dublin Municipal Code to reduce the subjectivity of the current
regulations.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Receive the report and provide direction to Staff regarding proposed amendments to the City's
Noise Ordinance.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Changes to the Dublin Municipal Code could result in minimal additional staff time for ongoing
regulation. Further fiscal analysis will be completed based on the direction received from the
City Council.
DESCRIPTION:
Background
On December 2, 2025, the City Council held a public hearing and approved outdoor live
entertainment in Downtown Dublin. During t he public hearing, the City Council raised concerns
about the subjectivity of the City’s current noise regulations. The City Council directed Staff to
return with a report on the City’s noise regulations and potential methods to reduce subjectivity
in the current ordinance while not establishing precise decibel limits.
Current Regulations
Noise is regulated by the Dublin Municipal Code Chapter 5.28 – Noise (Attachment 1). The
existing ordinance recognizes that excessive and disruptive noise can have negative impacts
on the quality of life and well-being of Dublin residents. The ordinance establishes regulations
to preserve the public health, safety, comfort, and welfare of the community by limiting noise
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that is loud, unnecessary, unnatural, unusual, or habitual. Current provisions subjectively
define prohibited noise based on intensity, duration, location, time, and effect on reasonable
persons.
The City receives a limited number of noise-related complaints, such as landscaping noise in
the morning or disturbances from house parties in the late evening. Those complaints are
generally resolved using the current ordinance framework and existing enforcement tools. Staff
has not identified a pattern of unresolved complaints, enforcement gaps, or deficiencies .
However, while the current ordinance provides broad authority and flexibility to address noise
complaints, its subjectivity could also reduce predictability for residents and businesses.
Analysis
In considering potential areas of improvement to the City’s Noise Ordinance, Staff researched
examples of noise regulations in other cities. Some cities establish defined noise levels,
typically measured in decibel levels. However, this approach is difficult to implement because it
requires specialized equipment and trained staff who are available 24 hours a day. Most of the
cities surveyed regulate the noise from certain activities based on time of day and location,
while relying on a “reasonable person” standard to regulate other sources of noise. This
activity-based approach balances objectivity, flexibility, and enforceability while reducing
subjectivity. Table 1 below summarizes the noise regulations in surrounding jurisdictions.
Table 1. Noise Ordinance Frameworks
City Structure & Approach Noise Standards Key Takeaways
San Ramon
Livermore
Danville
Walnut Creek
Source-specific
ordinance organized
by noise type.
No decibel standard;
regulated by activity
and context.
Reduces subjectivity
by regulating specific
noise sources.
Pleasanton Decibel-based
framework organized
by land use.
Explicit noise limits (dB)
by zoning and time of
day; special downtown
entertainment
standards.
Most objective system;
high predictability but
less flexibility.
Enforcement requires
specialized equipment
and training and does
not address after-hours
enforcement.
Each city that uses an activity-based approach identified regulated activities based on the
needs of that community. Some cities choose to regulate certain activities only in residential
areas or commercial/industrial areas, while others regulate certain noise in both areas.
Based on this research and the typical resident complaints heard in Dublin over the years,
Staff recommends focusing on activity-based regulations for noise generated only in residential
areas of the City. Table 2 illustrates the types of activities and restrictions that Staff
recommends.
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Table 2. Proposed Regulations for Noise-Generating Activities
Activity/Use at a Residence Proposed Regulations
Landscape Equipment /
Leaf Blowers
Allowed use at a residence as follows:
Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Amplified Noise/Parties Allowed at a residence as follows:
Sunday - Thursday from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday – Saturday from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Next Steps
Based on the City Council's direction, Staff will prepare the appropriate regulations and policies
to implement that direction.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
None.
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
The City Council Agenda was posted.
ATTACHMENTS:
1) Dublin Municipal Code Chapter 5.25 Noise
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Chapter 5.28
NOISE
Sections:
5.28.010 Findings.
5.28.020 Unreasonable noise prohibited.
5.28.030 Violation—Penalty.
5.28.010 Findings.
The City Council finds that the making, creation or maintenance of loud, unnecessary, unnatural, unusual or
habitual noises which are prolonged, unusual, and unnatural in their time, place and use affect and are a
detriment to the public health, comfort, safety, welfare, and prosperity of the residents of the city. The provisions
of this chapter are enacted for the purpose of securing and promoting the public health, comfort, safety, welfare,
and prosperity and the peace and quiet of the city and its inhabitants. (Ord. 4-84 § 1)
5.28.020 Unreasonable noise prohibited.
A. It is unlawful and a nuisance for any person within the city persistently to maintain, emit, cause,
mechanically or otherwise, or permit any animal owned by him or in his possession or control to make any loud,
or disturbing, or unnecessary, or unusual or habitual noise or any noise which annoys or disturbs or injures or
endangers the health, repose, peace or safety of any reasonable person of normal sensitivity present in the area.
B. The standards which shall be considered in determining whether a violation of the provisions of this chapter
exists shall include, but shall not be limited to the following:
1. The level, intensity, character and duration of the noise;
2. The level, intensity and character of background noise, if any;
3. The time when and the place and zoning district where the noise occurred;
4. The proximity of the noise to residential sleeping facilities; and
5. Whether the noise is recurrent, intermittent or constant. (Ord. 4-84 § 2)
5.28.030 Violation—Penalty.
Each violation of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense, and persons violating this chapter shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed five hundred
dollars ($500) or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days, or both such fine
and imprisonment. (Ord. 4-84 § 3)
The Dublin Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 7-25, passed October 21, 2025.
Dublin Municipal Code Chapter 5.28 NOISE
Attachment 1
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Proposed Amendments
to the City's Noise
Regulations
City Council
February 3, 2026
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Background
•December 2, 2025, City Council approved outdoor live entertainment
in Downtown Dublin
•Council raised concerns about the subjectivity of current noise regulations.
•Council direction to return with report on noise regulations and method to
reduce subjectivity without fixed decibel limits.
•Dublin Municipal Code Chapter 5.28
•Prohibits noise that is loud, unnecessary, unnatural, unusual, or habitual.
•Enforcement based on a 'reasonable person' standard.
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Review and Complaints Research
•Surrounding cities regulate noise two ways:
•Activity-based regulations (e.g., San Ramon, Livermore, Danville, Walnut
Creek).
•Decibel-based regulations (e.g., Pleasanton).
•Activity-based approaches balance flexibility and enforceability.
•Dublin has limited number of complaints annually.
•Common issues: early morning landscaping noise and late-night
house parties.
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Noise-Generating Activities Regulations
•Based on this research and typical resident complaints, limited
residential activity for:
•Landscape Equipment / Leaf Blowers:
•Monday –Friday: 7 a.m. –8 p.m.
•Saturday –Sunday: 8 a.m. –10 p.m.
•Amplified Noise / Parties:
•Sunday –Thursday: 10 a.m. –8 p.m.
•Friday –Saturday: 10 a.m. –10 p.m.
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Recommendation
•Receive the report.
•Provide direction regarding proposed amendments
to the City’s Noise Ordinance.
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