Santa Monica Prepares Ordinance to Restrict Days, Hours of Construction

The Santa Monica City Council has ordered preparation of a law restricting the hours and days building contractors may work in the city. The proposal was made in response to complaints by residents about construction noise.

Under the law being prepared by the city attorney, contractors would be prohibited from building or demolishing buildings, or performing excavations and grade work before 7 a.m. or after 8 p.m. on weekdays and before 9 a.m. on Saturdays.

The law also would prohibit construction work on seven federal holidays, including New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Current law prohibits construction-related work on Sundays.

The council also gave final approval to another anti-noise measure prohibiting trash collection between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., except in manufacturing districts.

Under the new law, collectors would be permitted to pick up trash between 3 and 7 a.m. in M-1 and M-2 zoning districts if it is done at least 500 feet from buildings outside the districts.