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First off i wasn't sure if this belonged here of off topic but seeing as how this is for laws i'll post it here. If it belongs somewhere else feel free to move it.

Anyway I got a band and we like to get together about 2 times a week and play in my garage. Usually we play on Thrus. from 6pm-9pm and Sun. from 3pm-6pm. Well anyway everyone's cool w/ us playing around here sometimes they even come out and watch us but i got one neighbor to the right of my house you comes out every now and then and tells us she can't here her TV I know her husband he a cool guy and didn't care about us playing he even watched us acouple of times. But to the point does anyone know the laws about playing music loudly? We try not to play too loud just enough to hear the guitars over the drums. But isn't there a law about not playing music loud after 10pm? Disturbing the peace? We don't play any later then 9pm but the other neighbors go and bump their rap music till 2am and they don't say anything. Can someone give me some info on noise laws? This is in South Cali BTW.

Cliff Notes: Loud music before 10pm ok? Noise laws? Anyone? In So Cal.

 
Rep Power: 281

I know most places the cut off is 9 or 10pm, and after that you run the risk of the cops coming, but i would not worry about it unless your smoking the chieb in the your garage.

 
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After 9pm you shouldn't be able to hear any type of music, voices, or noise past 50ft.

 
Rep Power: 281

Hmmmm... Here in Tx it's after 11 but normally all it takes is one complaint from a neighbor to the cops before something will be done. Legally you are fine, but if the police receive constant complaints about you, it doesn't really matter what time it is, the will come out. The most they can do at that point though is tell you to turn down your amps n such.

 
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That's what I figured. Thanx for the info

 
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i believe CA is within 50 feet. applys to before 10am and after 8pm?

try looking around www.dmv.ca.gov or www.chp.ca.gov

i have a direct link about this same violation, but its only in the alameda county which is nor cal bay area. maybe it could be same or similar? http://www.ci.alameda.ca.us/code/Chapter_4/10/5.html

 
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The 50 foot rule applies to vehicles and not residences. You need to check your city ordinances to find the allowed dB levels. For San Diego, it's the following:

From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. no more than one hour of noise greater than 50 dB
From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. no more than one hour of noise greater than 45 dB
From 10 p.m. to 7a.m. no more than one hour of nose greater than 40 dB

So in theory, you could have band practice for only one hour if the noise levels exceeded any of the above limitations.