SERVICE
Report a noise problem
Submit a noise complaint or report active noise problems that are in violation of noise regulations.
What to know
Response time
Varies. Depending on the type of noise, reports are collected for data and analysis purposes and may not be actioned.
Noise Regulation
Noise Regulations allow for human and animal created noises during the day unless:
- They become unreasonable
- They occur between 10 pm to 7 am
What to do
If you have an ongoing and persistent noise problem between neighbors or businesses, contact Community Boards.
1. Fill out a form for specific types of noise issues
Use this form to report noise complaints related to:
- Fixed building equipment or mechanical systems
- Construction on private property
- Construction on public property
- Delivery or service trucks
- Establishment with live entertainment
- Garbage or recycling collection
- Large event venue
- Mobile food facility
- Traffic
- Tour bus
We will need:
- The location
- Nature of request
- Description
Include a detailed description of the noise and location of the noise to assist with investigation.
2. Call non-emergency safety for noise in progress that violates Noise Regulations
Call non-emergency safety at 415-553-0123 for active noise problems that are in violation of the noise ordinance.
3. Track your case
After you report, you will get a tracking number from 311. You can use this number, and your email address if provided, to track your case online or on the SF311 mobile app.
Expected response time
Response time listed in business days.
- Building equipment or systems: 10 days
- Construction on private property: 3 days
- Construction on public property: 5 days
- Delivery or service trucks: 5 days
- Establishment with live entertainment: 5 days
- Garbage or recycling collection: 10 days
- Large event venue: 5 days
- Mobile food facility: 10 days
- Traffic: 5 days
- Tour bus: 5 days
- Other: varies
Special cases
Construction
Building construction
- Noise between 7am to 8pm, 7 days a week, including holidays is generally permitted
- Noise between 8pm and 7am is unlawful without a special Public Works permit
- Noise must not exceed noise level of 5 decibels at the nearest lot line, without a special permit. 5 decibels is similar to the sound of a screw gun installing screws in drywall.
- Check if permits have been issued and if there are any pending complaints.
- If there isn't a permit and you believe the noise exceeds allowed limits:
- Call 415-553-0123 (Police non-emergency line) if the problem is in progress
- Report a problem online, on the SF311 Mobile App, or call 311, if the problem is not in progress
Street or sidewalk construction
- Check if there is a valid permit for public building permits for street construction
- If there isn't a permit and you believe the noise exceeds allowed limits:
- Call 415-553-0123 (Police non-emergency line) if the problem is in progress
- Report a problem online, on the SF311 Mobile App, or call 311, if the problem is not in progress
Construction on Treasure Island or Yerba Buena Island
Contact TIDA for noise concerns on the islands:
- Wei Zhang, TIDA Noise Disturbance Coordinator, 415-274-0675
- Weihua.Zhang@sfgov.org
Exceptions
Emergency work for safety reasons is an exception for all construction noises.
Garbage or recycling
There are 2 ways to report garbage and recycling noise:
Report a problem to 311. This includes noise about:
- The collection vehicles
- The collectors
- The handling of the bins
- The time of day or night of the collection
Report a problem to the collection company. Recology is the parent company of the 3 companies that serve San Francisco:
- Sunset Scavenger: 415-330-1300
- Golden Gate Disposal and Recycling: 415-626-4000
- San Francisco Recycling: 415-330-1400
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA)
Call National Park Police Non-Emergency at 415-561-5505, 24 hours, if the problem is in progress and originate from within a Golden Gate National Recreation Area location:
- Baker Beach
- China Beach
- Cliff House
- Crissy Field
- Fort Funston
- Fort Mason
- Fort Point
- Lands End
- Ocean Beach
- Presidio
Neighbors in a multi-tenant building
Persistent noise issues within a multi-tenant building may be the responsibility of the Landlord.
Learn more about these types of noise issues from the San Francisco Rent Board.
You can contact the San Francisco Rent Board for more information at 415-252-4602 Monday thru Friday; 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm or submit a service request. You can visit the Rent Board at 25 Van Ness Ave, room 320, San Francisco, 94102 Monday thru Friday; 8am to 5pm.
Salesforce Transit Center
Salesforce Transit Center
Noise issues originating from within the Salesforce Transit Center, Call 415-597-5000.
Schools
City College of San Francisco (CCSF)
Noise issues originating from within the CCSF campus, call 415-239-3200.
San Francisco State University (SFSU)
Noise issues originating from within or immediately adjacent to the SFSU campus, call 415-338-7200.
University of California San Francisco (UCSF)
Noise issues originating from UCSF campus, call campus police:
- Mission Bay Station, 600 16th Street, 415-514-4043
- Mission Center Station, 1855 Folsom Street, 415-476-8871
- Parnassus Station, 500 Parnassus Avenue, 415-476-1414
University of San Francisco (USF)
Noise issues originating from within the USF campus, Call 415-422-4222.
Transportation
Airport
For noise issues with SFO, call
- 6-2323 from courtesy phones inside the Airport
- 650-821-7111 from outside the Airport
- Or email sfocop@flysfo.com
BART
For noise issues inside a BART Station or train:
- Use the courtesy phone inside station
- BART Police Communications Center at 510-464-7000
- BART San Francisco Patrol at 510-464-7075
For noise issues outside the BART station (plaza, entrance and exit areas, pavement above) call 415-553-0123, 24 hours a day.
Caltrain
- For noise issues inside a Caltrains Station or train, call 1-800-660-4287
- For noise issues outside the Caltrains station (plaza, entrance and exit areas, pavement above) call 415-553-0123, 24 hours a day.
Helicopters and airplanes
To report noise issues from aircraft landing or departing from San Francisco Airport (SFO): 1-877-206-8290. There is a 2 minute recording on how to file a complaint. You can also send an e-mail complaint to: sfo.noise@flysfo.com
Noise NOT associated with an airport, contact:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Standards District Office
1420 Harbor Bay Pkwy, Ste. 280 Alameda, CA 94502-7083 510-748-0122 (Fax: 510-748-9559)
Mon to Fri, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm (Office hours by appointment only)
Muni
Any complaint (including noise) involving a MUNI bus, train, employee, operation yard or depot, call 3-1-1 or submit Online Feedback
Tour Bus
Noise issues originating from Unenclosed Tour Buses, submit a Noise Complaint.
Get help
Phone
What to know
Response time
Varies. Depending on the type of noise, reports are collected for data and analysis purposes and may not be actioned.
Noise Regulation
Noise Regulations allow for human and animal created noises during the day unless:
- They become unreasonable
- They occur between 10 pm to 7 am
What to do
If you have an ongoing and persistent noise problem between neighbors or businesses, contact Community Boards.
1. Fill out a form for specific types of noise issues
Use this form to report noise complaints related to:
- Fixed building equipment or mechanical systems
- Construction on private property
- Construction on public property
- Delivery or service trucks
- Establishment with live entertainment
- Garbage or recycling collection
- Large event venue
- Mobile food facility
- Traffic
- Tour bus
We will need:
- The location
- Nature of request
- Description
Include a detailed description of the noise and location of the noise to assist with investigation.
2. Call non-emergency safety for noise in progress that violates Noise Regulations
Call non-emergency safety at 415-553-0123 for active noise problems that are in violation of the noise ordinance.
3. Track your case
After you report, you will get a tracking number from 311. You can use this number, and your email address if provided, to track your case online or on the SF311 mobile app.
Expected response time
Response time listed in business days.
- Building equipment or systems: 10 days
- Construction on private property: 3 days
- Construction on public property: 5 days
- Delivery or service trucks: 5 days
- Establishment with live entertainment: 5 days
- Garbage or recycling collection: 10 days
- Large event venue: 5 days
- Mobile food facility: 10 days
- Traffic: 5 days
- Tour bus: 5 days
- Other: varies
Special cases
Construction
Building construction
- Noise between 7am to 8pm, 7 days a week, including holidays is generally permitted
- Noise between 8pm and 7am is unlawful without a special Public Works permit
- Noise must not exceed noise level of 5 decibels at the nearest lot line, without a special permit. 5 decibels is similar to the sound of a screw gun installing screws in drywall.
- Check if permits have been issued and if there are any pending complaints.
- If there isn't a permit and you believe the noise exceeds allowed limits:
- Call 415-553-0123 (Police non-emergency line) if the problem is in progress
- Report a problem online, on the SF311 Mobile App, or call 311, if the problem is not in progress
Street or sidewalk construction
- Check if there is a valid permit for public building permits for street construction
- If there isn't a permit and you believe the noise exceeds allowed limits:
- Call 415-553-0123 (Police non-emergency line) if the problem is in progress
- Report a problem online, on the SF311 Mobile App, or call 311, if the problem is not in progress
Construction on Treasure Island or Yerba Buena Island
Contact TIDA for noise concerns on the islands:
- Wei Zhang, TIDA Noise Disturbance Coordinator, 415-274-0675
- Weihua.Zhang@sfgov.org
Exceptions
Emergency work for safety reasons is an exception for all construction noises.
Garbage or recycling
There are 2 ways to report garbage and recycling noise:
Report a problem to 311. This includes noise about:
- The collection vehicles
- The collectors
- The handling of the bins
- The time of day or night of the collection
Report a problem to the collection company. Recology is the parent company of the 3 companies that serve San Francisco:
- Sunset Scavenger: 415-330-1300
- Golden Gate Disposal and Recycling: 415-626-4000
- San Francisco Recycling: 415-330-1400
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA)
Call National Park Police Non-Emergency at 415-561-5505, 24 hours, if the problem is in progress and originate from within a Golden Gate National Recreation Area location:
- Baker Beach
- China Beach
- Cliff House
- Crissy Field
- Fort Funston
- Fort Mason
- Fort Point
- Lands End
- Ocean Beach
- Presidio
Neighbors in a multi-tenant building
Persistent noise issues within a multi-tenant building may be the responsibility of the Landlord.
Learn more about these types of noise issues from the San Francisco Rent Board.
You can contact the San Francisco Rent Board for more information at 415-252-4602 Monday thru Friday; 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm or submit a service request. You can visit the Rent Board at 25 Van Ness Ave, room 320, San Francisco, 94102 Monday thru Friday; 8am to 5pm.
Salesforce Transit Center
Salesforce Transit Center
Noise issues originating from within the Salesforce Transit Center, Call 415-597-5000.
Schools
City College of San Francisco (CCSF)
Noise issues originating from within the CCSF campus, call 415-239-3200.
San Francisco State University (SFSU)
Noise issues originating from within or immediately adjacent to the SFSU campus, call 415-338-7200.
University of California San Francisco (UCSF)
Noise issues originating from UCSF campus, call campus police:
- Mission Bay Station, 600 16th Street, 415-514-4043
- Mission Center Station, 1855 Folsom Street, 415-476-8871
- Parnassus Station, 500 Parnassus Avenue, 415-476-1414
University of San Francisco (USF)
Noise issues originating from within the USF campus, Call 415-422-4222.
Transportation
Airport
For noise issues with SFO, call
- 6-2323 from courtesy phones inside the Airport
- 650-821-7111 from outside the Airport
- Or email sfocop@flysfo.com
BART
For noise issues inside a BART Station or train:
- Use the courtesy phone inside station
- BART Police Communications Center at 510-464-7000
- BART San Francisco Patrol at 510-464-7075
For noise issues outside the BART station (plaza, entrance and exit areas, pavement above) call 415-553-0123, 24 hours a day.
Caltrain
- For noise issues inside a Caltrains Station or train, call 1-800-660-4287
- For noise issues outside the Caltrains station (plaza, entrance and exit areas, pavement above) call 415-553-0123, 24 hours a day.
Helicopters and airplanes
To report noise issues from aircraft landing or departing from San Francisco Airport (SFO): 1-877-206-8290. There is a 2 minute recording on how to file a complaint. You can also send an e-mail complaint to: sfo.noise@flysfo.com
Noise NOT associated with an airport, contact:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Standards District Office
1420 Harbor Bay Pkwy, Ste. 280 Alameda, CA 94502-7083 510-748-0122 (Fax: 510-748-9559)
Mon to Fri, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm (Office hours by appointment only)
Muni
Any complaint (including noise) involving a MUNI bus, train, employee, operation yard or depot, call 3-1-1 or submit Online Feedback
Tour Bus
Noise issues originating from Unenclosed Tour Buses, submit a Noise Complaint.