Decibel Shield
Noise ordinances
City noise ordinances: quiet hours and decibel limits
Across the 104 cities here, in 34 states, quiet hours start anywhere from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., and 22 cities set no general decibel limit at all: they enforce by whether sound is "plainly audible" at a distance, so no meter reading settles it. Boston caps night noise at 50 dBA at the lot line; New York instead allows 10 dB(A) over background. Each page below quotes the official code.
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| City | Quiet hours | Limit type |
|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. (50 dBA indoors); construction near homes 10 p.m. – 6 a.m., Sundays: permit | dB limits + audibility |
| Anaheim, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. for parties; 60 dBA all hours; construction exempt 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Anchorage, AK | 10 p.m.–7 a.m. (50 dBA Lmax residential); construction 6/7 a.m.–10 p.m., not Sundays/holidays | dB limits + audibility |
| Arlington, TX | No set hours: unreasonable noise near a home is disorderly conduct (state law) | audibility standard |
| Arlington County, VA | 9 p.m. – 7 a.m. (until 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sunday and legal holiday mornings) | dB limits + audibility |
| Atlanta, GA | 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. Sun–Thu, midnight – 7 a.m. Fri–Sat: the 100-foot rule (Sec. 74-131(b)) | audibility standard |
| Aurora, CO | 9:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (45 dBA at homes); disturbing loudspeakers 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Austin, TX | 10:30 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.: no noise or music audible next door (Sec. 9-2-3) | dB limits + audibility |
| Bakersfield, CA | No general curfew; construction 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. weekends | audibility standard |
| Baltimore, MD | 9:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.: limits drop 5 dB(A) (§ 9-207); power tools only 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. weekdays | dB limits + audibility |
| Boston, MA | 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Buffalo, NY | 9 p.m. – 7 a.m. for construction and lawn equipment; the code's "day" ends 11 p.m. Fri–Sat | dB limits + audibility |
| Chandler, AZ | No general quiet hours; construction near homes 5 a.m.–10 p.m. weekdays, 7–7 weekends/holidays | audibility standard |
| Charlotte, NC | 9:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Chesapeake, VA | 10:00 p.m. – 6:30 a.m. Mon–Sat; 10:00 p.m. Sat – 8:00 a.m. Sun | dB limits + audibility |
| Chicago, IL | 8:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m. (10:00 p.m. amplified sound) | dB limits + audibility |
| Chula Vista, CA | 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. weekdays; 10 p.m. – 8 a.m. weekends | dB limits + audibility |
| Cincinnati, OH | 7 p.m. – 7 a.m. (55 dBA residential; 60 Fri–Sat); construction needs permit 9 p.m. – 7 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Cleveland, OH | 7:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (construction and unnecessary noise within 500 ft of homes) | audibility standard |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 7:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (50 dBA residential); construction held to industrial levels | dB limits + audibility |
| Columbus, OH | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 11:01 p.m. – 8 a.m. Sun–Thu, 12:01 – 7 a.m. Fri–Sat (60 dBA); construction 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Dallas, TX | No named quiet hours; construction near homes only 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. weekdays (Sec. 30-2(8)) | audibility standard |
| Denver, CO | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Detroit, MI | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. | audibility standard |
| Durham, NC | 11 p.m. – 8 a.m.; construction in residential/business districts 8 p.m. – 7 a.m. and all Sunday | dB limits + audibility |
| El Paso, TX | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (70 dBA / 75 dBC); restaurants from 11 p.m. Fri–Sat | dB limits + audibility |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (sound devices may not be audible off the source's location) | audibility standard |
| Fort Worth, TX | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (60 dBA residential); construction 7 a.m. – 8 p.m., 9 a.m. on weekends | dB limits + audibility |
| Fremont, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.; construction near homes 7 a.m.–7 p.m. weekdays, none Sunday | audibility standard |
| Fresno, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (ambient floor 50 dB); construction 7 a.m. – 10 p.m., never Sunday | dB limits + audibility |
| Garland, TX | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (lower night limits; no outdoor power equipment in residential zones) | dB limits + audibility |
| Gilbert, AZ | 10 p.m. – 5 a.m. (45 dBA inside homes); yelling and loud noise barred 9 p.m. – 7 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Glendale, AZ | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. for music heard off the premises; car stereos 50 ft at all hours | audibility standard |
| Greensboro, NC | 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.; construction in residential districts 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Henderson, NV | Loud amplified 10 p.m.–7 a.m. (10 a.m. weekends); building 6 a.m.–6 p.m.; dB table night 9 p.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Hialeah, FL | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. for construction, drilling and repair tools; music has no set hours | audibility standard |
| Honolulu, HI | Machinery 10 p.m.–7 a.m. (45 dBA homes); loud building 7–6 weekdays, 9–6 Sat, not Sun/holidays | dB limits + audibility |
| Houston, TX | 10:01 p.m. – 7:59 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Huntsville, AL | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. | dB limits |
| Indianapolis, IN | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (construction and pile drivers: 7:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.) | dB limits + audibility |
| Inglewood, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (night base level applies) | dB limits |
| Irvine, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (lower dB limit); construction 7 a.m.–7 p.m. weekdays, 9–6 Sat | dB limits |
| Irving, TX | 10:00 p.m. – 6:59 a.m. (11:00 p.m. Fri–Sat on listed blocks and high-intensity mixed use) | dB limits + audibility |
| Jacksonville, FL | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. | dB limits |
| Jersey City, NJ | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (50 dBA outdoors, 40 dBA indoors at homes) | dB limits + audibility |
| Kansas City, MO | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (55 dBA outside, 40 dBA inside); car stereos 25 ft at night | dB limits + audibility |
| Laredo, TX | 8:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (construction, power and lawn tools); 55 dB(A) device rule at all hours | dB limits + audibility |
| Las Vegas, NV | 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. | audibility standard |
| Lexington, KY | 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. for tools, loading and loudspeakers; music has no set hours | audibility standard |
| Lincoln, NE | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (lower dB limits); construction 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Long Beach, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (45 dBA outside, 35 dBA inside); construction 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. weekdays | dB limits + audibility |
| Los Angeles, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (construction: 9:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m., no Sundays except your own home) | dB limits + audibility |
| Louisville, KY | No blanket quiet hours (audibility test applies 24 h) | audibility standard |
| Lubbock, TX | 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. (commercial construction, outdoor power equipment, mechanical devices) | audibility standard |
| Madison, WI | No single window — activity-specific rules (construction, amplification, collection) | dB limits |
| Memphis, TN | 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Mesa, AZ | 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. weighs against you; construction 6:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. | audibility standard |
| Miami, FL | 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. business music (Sec. 36-5); outdoor music near homes 10 p.m. – 8 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Milwaukee, WI | 9:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (NR 45 residential); mowers and yard tools barred 9 p.m. – 8 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Minneapolis, MN | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (night limits); parties from 10 p.m.; yard tools until 10 p.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Nashville, TN | No single window; commercial 9:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| New Orleans, LA | Night 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. (8 a.m. weekends); neighbour music cut-off 9 p.m. Sun–Thu (Sec. 66-203) | dB limits |
| New York, NY | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Newark, NJ | 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. (50 dBA at homes); construction curbed 8 p.m. – 7 a.m. weekdays, all Sunday | dB limits + audibility |
| Norfolk, VA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| North Las Vegas, NV | No curfew; 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. named for music and shouting; construction allowed 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. | audibility standard |
| Oakland, CA | 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. (45 dBA); persistent noise 9 p.m.; construction day levels 7–7, weekends 9–8 | dB limits + audibility |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Omaha, NE | 9:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (55 dBA residential); construction 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. barred | dB limits + audibility |
| Orlando, FL | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (55 dBA residential); construction exempt 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., not Sundays | dB limits + audibility |
| Philadelphia, PA | No general quiet hours; dB limits apply 24 h | dB limits + audibility |
| Phoenix, AZ | 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (emphasis window, not an absolute cutoff) | dB limits + audibility |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. (55 dBA unamplified, 75 amplified); construction 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. weekdays | dB limits + audibility |
| Plano, TX | 10:01 p.m. – 6:59 a.m. (55 dB residential); no construction within 500 ft of homes | dB limits + audibility |
| Portland, OR | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Raleigh, NC | 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.; construction 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.; venues 55 dB(A) after 10/11 p.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Reno, NV | No citywide curfew; 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. 49 dB limit for nonresidential sites near homes | dB limits + audibility |
| Richmond, VA | 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (55 dBA at homes; 65 dBA by day) | dB limits |
| Riverside, CA | 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. (45 dBA); construction exempt 7 a.m.–7 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Sat | dB limits + audibility |
| Rockford, IL | Tiered: outdoor amplified music banned 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. near residences | audibility standard |
| Sacramento, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (50 dBA outside, 45 dBA between units) | dB limits + audibility |
| San Antonio, TX | 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday | dB limits + audibility |
| San Diego, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| San Francisco, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (45 dBA indoors); construction 8:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. | dB limits |
| San Jose, CA | No set hours: disturbing or unreasonably loud at any time | audibility standard |
| Santa Ana, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (50 dBA); construction exempt only 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Mon–Sat | dB limits + audibility |
| Scottsdale, AZ | 10 p.m. – 9 a.m. for parties (68 dBA presumption); car stereos 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Seattle, WA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. weekdays; 10:00 p.m. – 9:00 a.m. weekends and legal holidays | dB limits + audibility |
| Spring Valley, NV | Night limits outside 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Title 30 "daytime hours") | dB limits + audibility |
| St. Louis, MO | 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. (50 dBA stationary, A–E); no construction before 6 a.m. or after dusk Mon–Sat | dB limits + audibility |
| St. Paul, MN | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (55 dBA L10 residential); loud power tools barred the same hours | dB limits + audibility |
| St. Petersburg, FL | 11 p.m. – 8 a.m. for music and sound devices; midnight Fri, Sat and pre-holiday for some uses | audibility standard |
| Stockton, CA | 10 p.m.–7 a.m. (45 dB Leq, 65 Lmax), construction included; power tools 9 p.m.–8 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Tacoma, WA | 10 p.m. – 7 a.m.; construction limited 9 p.m. – 7 a.m. (to 9 a.m. weekends, federal holidays) | dB limits + audibility |
| Tampa, FL | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.: plainly audible 100 ft away is prima facie a violation (Sec. 14-154(e)) | dB limits + audibility |
| Toledo, OH | 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. (machinery dB limits); the music rule names 9 p.m. – 7 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Tucson, AZ | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (62 dBA residential); construction 8 p.m. – sunrise, none Sunday | dB limits + audibility |
| Tulsa, OK | No set hours: unreasonably loud or disturbing at any time | audibility standard |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (55 dBA inside your home); construction 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. | dB limits |
| Washington, DC | 9:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (10:00 p.m. criminal offence) | dB limits + audibility |
| Wichita, KS | 10:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m. (50 dBA residential); construction 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Winston-Salem, NC | Music "particularly" 11 p.m. – 7 a.m.; mowers and tools near homes 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. | dB limits + audibility |
| Worcester, MA | No single window — activity-specific nighttime rules | audibility standard |
Outside the United States
India sets its limits nationally rather than city by city: 55 dB(A) by day and 45 at night in residential areas, with night from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The India noise rules page quotes the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 and explains how a complaint works there.
The UK has no national daytime limit: councils act on statutory nuisance at any hour, and between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. the Noise Act 1996 sets a 34 dBA permitted level measured inside the complainant's home. The UK noise laws page covers night limits, fines, builders' hours and how to complain. In Canada, Toronto's noise bylaw bans construction noise from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and limits music to 55 dB(A) by day and 50 at night.
How these pages are made
Every summary is researched from the city's official codified text (the municipal code hosts cities actually publish to), quotes the code verbatim, and is then independently re-checked against the live code before publishing — the verification date is shown on each page. Where a city has no decibel limit, the page says so plainly rather than inventing a number. These are plain-language summaries, not legal advice; each page links the official code.
Dealing with a noise problem?
The noise complaints guide covers the general playbook, the free online decibel meter measures the actual level where you are (nothing is recorded or uploaded), and every US city above also has a transportation-noise map and ranking.
Renting? The night rules for every city here, plus what a lease can add, are on apartment quiet hours.