Noise

Construction and community noise

The City of Berkeley’s Environmental Health Division oversees Berkeley’s community noise program, which includes construction noise standards. For information on noise limits and to learn how to file a complaint, please see the City’s Noise Standards page.

Landlords about to start a construction project should know and follow Berkeley's construction noise standards.

Tenants living in rental units fully covered by Berkeley’s Rent Ordinance may be eligible for a rent reduction through the Rent Board petitions process to compensate for disruptions caused by construction noise that violates Berkeley’s noise standards. Contact a Rent Board housing counselor for more information. 

Noise level readings

You can contact the City of Berkeley’s Environmental Health Division at (510) 981-5310 to make a request for a health inspector to take noise level readings at a work site. There are also mobile phone apps that will let you take and record decibel level readings (we cannot recommend specific apps). 

Neighbor noise

Some neighbor noise in multi-family rental housing is a fact of life. In cases of excessive, disruptive noise, we encourage tenants to work with their neighbors and landlords to try to resolve problems cooperatively. Landlords and tenants should be aware that it is good cause for eviction for a tenant to continue to disturb the peace and quiet of other occupants after receiving a written request from the landlord to stop. If you are unable to informally resolve a noise issue, please contact a Rent Board housing counselor to discuss your situation.