Noise ordinances › Anchorage, AK

Anchorage noise ordinance: quiet hours, limits and complaints

Last updated: October 1, 2026

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Quiet hours in Anchorage

Night is 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. in Table 1, where every residential and commercial receiving limit drops (residential from a residential source 60 to 50 dB(A) Lmax). Amplified sound measured indoors has its own clock: 3 dB(C) above ambient on weeknights from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and on Friday, Saturday and holidays from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., and 5 dB(C) at all other times (15.70.080 C). Construction without a Health Department permit may not create a noise disturbance across a residential property boundary or in a noise-sensitive zone between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. in the construction season (April 1 through October 31), between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in other months, or at any time on Sundays or state holidays, and in the permitted daytime hours it may not exceed an Leq of 80 dB(A) in any one hour at a residential, commercial or industrial property boundary (15.70.060 B.3). Other night rules, each 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.: noncommercial power tools, lawn and garden tools and snow blowers in residential areas (B.4); loading and unloading (B.7); vibration above the perception threshold inside a residential boundary (B.19); refuse collection and compacting, barred outright in noise-sensitive zones and elsewhere when it causes a noise disturbance across a residential boundary (15.70.090 D); and vehicles over 10,000 lb idling more than ten minutes in an hour within 150 feet of a residential area or noise-sensitive zone (15.70.090 F). Emergency siren tests may not run before 7:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m. (B.5), and selling by shouting is allowed only from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (B.17). Barking falls under Title 17's "chronic animal noise": repeated vocalization for more than five consecutive minutes in either the 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. or the 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. noise period (17.05.010).

Decibel limits

Yes. Sec. 15.70.080 A, Table 1, "Sound Levels By Emitting and Receiving Land Use," in dB(A) Lmax, measured "at or within the real property boundary of the receiving land use"; rows are the receiving property and columns the emitting property (residential / commercial / industrial). 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.: residential receiver 60 / 65 / 70; commercial receiver 70 / 70 / 75; industrial receiver 80 / 80 / 80. 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.: residential 50 / 55 / 65; commercial 60 / 60 / 70; industrial 80 / 80 / 80. Table 1 does not apply to the unamplified human voice, aircraft and airports, in-season construction from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., domestic power tools, emergency signaling devices, explosives and firearms, motorboats, the public-utility sites covered by 15.70.060 B.14, stationary nonemergency signals, motor vehicles on public rights-of-way, refuse collection vehicles or snow-removal vehicles on Anchorage School District property and other public rights-of-way (15.70.080 B). Indoor bass rule (15.70.080 C): amplified sound on private property may not raise levels inside a complainant's residence, dwelling or building more than 3 dB(C) above ambient (weeknights 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.; Friday, Saturday and holidays 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.) or 5 dB(C) above ambient at other times, measured with C weighting and "fast" response, not in hallways, closets or bathrooms. Other limits: construction Leq 80 dB(A) in any hour; motorboats 80 dB(A) at 50 feet or at the nearest shoreline; places of public entertainment 90 dB(A) (slow response) at any customer position unless a hearing-damage warning sign is posted; pre-1979 electric and gas utility sites Leq 65 dB(A) at a residential boundary (15.70.060 B). Vehicles on public rights-of-way, measured at 50 feet (Table 2): of 10,000 lb GVWR or GCWR or more 86 dB(A) in zones of 35 mph or less and 90 above (88 stationary run-up for interstate carriers); motorcycles and all other vehicles 76 / 80; horns 90 dB(A) at 100 feet; refuse compactors 86 dB(A) at 50 feet; off-road recreational vehicles including snowmobiles 76 dB(A) at 50 feet from the path on public space or at the boundary on private property (Table 3) (15.70.090). Tables 4 and 5 (15.70.100) require the director to order an immediate halt to exposures to hazardous levels, from 90 dB(A) for 24 hours to 108 dB(A) for 22 minutes, and impulses of 145, 135 or 125 dB(A) at 1, 10 or 100 per day. Measurement (15.70.075): a Type I or Type II meter (ANSI S1.4-1971) with A weighting and fast and slow response, operated by a trained Health Department code enforcement officer or other person the director authorizes. The meter is not the only route: 15.70.060 A bans any unreasonable "noise disturbance" and 15.70.060 B.15 bans radios, stereos and instruments that create one across a real property boundary, without a number.

What the ordinance actually says

Sec. 15.70.060 A: "No person shall unreasonably make, continue or cause to be made or continued any noise disturbance except noncommercial public speaking or public assembly activities conducted on any public space or public right-of-way."

Sec. 15.70.030 A: ""Noise disturbance" means any sound that endangers or injures the safety or health of humans or animals, annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities, or endangers or injures personal or real property."

Sec. 15.70.080 A: "Except when a permit has been issued by the department or as otherwise provided in subsection B of this section, no person shall operate or allow to be operated on public or private property any source of sound in such a manner as to create a sound level that exceeds the limits set forth for the receiving land use category in Table 1 of this chapter when sound levels are measured at or within the real property boundary of the receiving land use." Table 1 (dB(A) Lmax; receiving property by row, emitting property Residential / Commercial / Industrial by column), 7:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m.: "Residential 60 65 70; Commercial 70 70 75; Industrial 80 80 80"; 10:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m.: "Residential 50 55 65; Commercial 60 60 70; Industrial 80 80 80"

Sec. 15.70.080 C: "Notwithstanding the above provisions in this section, no person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit the operation of any amplified sound on private property in such a manner that it raises the total sound levels of the permissible sound limits set forth in Table 2 when measured within the residence, dwelling, or building structure of a complainant." Table (Indoors across a real property line): "Weeknights 10:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m. 3 dB(C) above ambient sound levels; Friday, Saturday and Holidays 11:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m. 3 dB(C) above ambient sound; All Other Times 5 dB(C) above ambient sound"

Sec. 15.70.060 B.3.a: "So that the sound therefrom creates a noise disturbance across a residential real property boundary or within a noise-sensitive zone between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. during the construction season, or between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. during other months, or at any time on Sundays or state holidays; or"

Sec. 15.70.095 A: "Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, with the exception of this chapter, no person operating in or in control of a parked or moving motor vehicle shall operate or permit the operation of an electronically amplified sound system in or on the motor vehicle so as to produce sound that is clearly audible at 25 feet or more from the motor vehicle or in violation of the provisions in section 15.70.060. For the purpose of this section, the phrase "clearly audible" means that sound is transferred to the auditor, such as but not limited to being able to understand spoken or sung words, or comprehension of musical rhythms."

Sec. 15.70.060 B.4: "Noncommercial use of power tools. No person shall operate or permit the operation of any mechanically powered saw, sander, drill, grinder, lawn or garden tool, snow blower or similar device in residential areas between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day so as to cause a noise disturbance across a residential real property boundary."

Sec. 8.30.120 A.3: "Knowingly generate loud noise in a private place with the intent to disturb others or in reckless disregard of the peace and privacy of others after having been informed that the loud noise is disturbing the peace and privacy of others not in the same place."

Quoted verbatim from the official codified text (Anchorage Municipal Code, Title 15 "Environmental Protection," Chapter 15.70 "Noise Control" (the Anchorage Noise Control Ordinance; AO No. 78-48, as amended by AO Nos. 85-8, 85-18, 89-130, 94-77(S), 2001-57, 2001-97, 2011-59, 2015-111(S-1) and 2018-118): 15.70.010 short title, 15.70.020 general provisions, 15.70.030 definitions, 15.70.040 powers and duties of the Anchorage Health Department, 15.70.050 governmental compliance, 15.70.060 prohibited acts and conditions, 15.70.070 noise permits, 15.70.075 measuring sound levels, 15.70.080 property line noise emission standards (Table 1 and the indoor C-weighted table), 15.70.090 motor vehicle noise emission standards (Tables 2 and 3), 15.70.095 electronically amplified sound systems in motor vehicles, 15.70.100 hazardous noise emission standards (Tables 4 and 5), 15.70.110 penalties and remedies; also 14.60.030 fine schedule, 8.30.120 disorderly conduct (as amended by AO No. 2026-10), 17.05.010 ("chronic animal noise") and 17.10.015 animals creating disturbance. Code version dated 2026-09-10; the two adopted-but-uncodified laws listed by the host amend only Title 21 (zoning). Text read on eCode360 (General Code, the Municipality's code host, linked from the Health Department's noise page) on 2026-10-01.). Verified against the live code on 2026-10-01. Ordinances get amended — before acting on a specific provision, check the linked official code. This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice.

How to file a noise complaint in Anchorage

Per muni.org, Anchorage Health Department, Environmental Health Services, "Community Noise" page: "For noisy neighbors, vehicles, loud music, or after-hours needs, please contact the APD non-emergency line at (907) 786-8500." APD's own website gives different numbers: it lists non-emergency as 3-1-1 (non-emergency dispatch 907-786-8900 ext. 0), its FAQ tells residents with loud neighbors to call 3-1-1 to report unless they are in imminent physical danger and says noise complaints are low priority, and the same FAQ lists "786-8500" as APD dispatch for parking problems. For barking dogs the page directs residents to Anchorage Animal Care & Control at (907) 343-8122 or accs@muni.org (Monday–Friday 11:00 am–7:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am–6:00 pm), and for a neighbor's trash, junk cars or roosters to land use code enforcement at (907) 343-4141; it also links a "File a Complaint Online" form. Noise permits (construction, explosives, public or special events, snow removal and motor vehicle racing) are applied for in person at 825 L Street, 3rd floor, at least 20 days before the event, and "Any individual may contact EHS to contest a noise permit application and request a hearing" (see 15.70.070 B.3). Fines under AMC 14.60.030: $250 each for 15.70.060 A or B, 15.70.080 A or B and 15.70.090 violations; for car stereos under 15.70.095, $150 for a first violation, $450 for a second within six months, and $1,500 plus forfeiture of the sound system or components up to $1,000 in value for a third within one year, assessed through the administrative hearing officer (15.70.095 C). The department may also enjoin or abate, recover costs and damages, assess up to double the fine, penalty, costs and damages for a repeat offense within one year of an enforcement order, and seek a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per violation (15.70.110). A notice of violation for chronic barking issues only after a written statement signed by two neighbors at different addresses (one of them the original complainant), or by one neighbor with date-and-time-specific evidence, and an animal control investigation (17.10.015 A.4).

Step by step, with what to log and what to expect after you file: how to file a noise complaint in Anchorage. For the general playbook — documenting the problem, talking to a landlord or HOA, when 311 beats 911 — see the noise complaints guide.

Worth knowing

(1) Table 1 reads both ways: the limit depends on the receiving and the emitting land use, so a commercial neighbor may put 65 dB(A) into a residential lot by day and 55 at night, and an industrial one 70 and 65; the metric is Lmax, the single loudest moment, not an average. (2) The bass rule is unusual: for amplified sound on private property the officer may measure inside the complainant's home on the C scale against the ambient level measured in the home when the source is not prominent (or in a relatively unaffected room on the same floor), once the complainant says the "rhythmic bass component" is disturbing, and on Friday, Saturday and holidays the strict 3 dB(C) margin starts at 11 p.m. instead of 10. The subsection refers to the limits "set forth in Table 2," which is also the label of the motor-vehicle table in 15.70.090; the indoor table itself is unnumbered. (3) The construction season (April 1 to October 31) moves the morning start from 7 a.m. to 6 a.m., Sundays and state holidays are closed all day for construction that disturbs a residential boundary, and in-season daytime construction is exempt from Table 1 but capped at an hourly Leq of 80 dB(A); the Health Department can permit more on a showing of unreasonable hardship, with 20 days' notice, a 10 percent late fee, a hearing on request by anyone adversely affected, and a one-year maximum (15.70.070). (4) Snow blowers are named in the 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. power-tool rule. (5) The car-stereo test is 25 feet, and "clearly audible" includes understanding words or musical rhythms; fines climb to $1,500 and forfeiture of the system on a third offense within a year (AMC 14.60.030). (6) Noncommercial public speaking and public assembly on public space or rights-of-way are carved out of the general noise-disturbance ban (15.70.060 A). (7) Barking is handled under Title 17, not this chapter (15.70.060 B.2): "chronic animal noise" is more than five consecutive minutes, barking that long is presumed to disturb, and three notices of violation in a year can lead to forfeiture of the animal unless the owner has taken verifiable steps such as a barking-control device (17.05.010, 17.10.015). (8) Police can also use disorderly conduct: knowingly making loud noise in a private place with intent to disturb others, or in reckless disregard of them after being told it disturbs them, where "loud noise" means loud enough to wake the average sleeper in another place, is a class B misdemeanor (8.30.120). (9) Bars and venues may exceed 90 dB(A) inside only with a posted sign reading "Warning: Sound Levels Within May Cause Permanent Hearing Impairment" (15.70.060 B.12). (10) Housekeeping slips: 15.70.030 defines "Department" as the Municipal Department of Health and Human Services while the section headings name the Anchorage Health Department, and 15.70.060 B.11 cites noise-sensitive zones designated under "15.70.040A.7" although the designation power is in 15.70.040 A.6.

Document it before you report it

Anchorage's limits are measured numbers, so a reading is direct evidence of how loud it really is. Take a quick reading with the free online decibel meter — it runs in your browser and records nothing — and check how loud your block is on the Anchorage noise map. For time-stamped measurement history you can show a landlord or code officer, the app keeps a log.