Fact Brief: Does San Jose have a noise curfew for residents?

No.

San Jose does not have a noise curfew or ‘quiet hours’ when loud events or a specified decibel level from residents are illegal, unlike other cities in the Bay Area.

According to the San Jose Police Department website and the department’s regulations, San Jose residents are prohibited from making loud, disruptive, or unreasonable noises, but there is no mention of a time when loud activities are illegal.

San Jose isn’t the only city in the Bay Area to lack a noise curfew. Both Oakland and Berkeley regulations lack any specific mention of quiet hours in its laws.

If a San Jose resident needs to report a noise disturbance, SJPD says to call (408) 277-8900 and provide the location of the party if known, and as much information as possible.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

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Sources

• San Jose Police Department Procedures for Reporting a Loud Party
• Tobener Ravenscroft LLP Noise Complaints: What can a Tenant do About Excessive and Continuous Noise Disturbances