Noise ordinances › Baltimore County, MD

Baltimore County noise ordinance: quiet hours, limits and complaints

Last updated: October 27, 2026

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Quiet hours in Baltimore County

The Baltimore County Code sets no general quiet hours: the domestic noise rule (§ 17-3-103) applies at any hour, judged by whether the noise unreasonably disturbs the neighbors. The clock comes from Maryland's state standard, which defines daytime hours as 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and nighttime hours as 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. (COMAR 26.02.03.01). At night the state limit at residential property falls from 65 to 55 dBA and at commercial property from 67 to 62 dBA; construction and demolition may reach 90 dBA by day but must meet the night limits from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.; and household tools and portable appliances, lawn care and snow removal equipment, and blasting are exempt only in daytime hours (COMAR 26.02.03.02). Trash collection is exempt from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and pile driving from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A burglar or car alarm becomes a public nuisance alarm if it sounds continuously for more than 2 hours between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., or for more than 4 hours between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. (§ 13-11-101). Zoning conditions set event hours for some venues: a catering hall converted from a dwelling in the R.C.2 zone of the Hanover Pike Corridor Study Area may hold events (75 or more guests) only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, ending by 11:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and by 8:00 p.m. on Sundays (BCZR § 402.3).

Decibel limits

Baltimore County's own code sets no decibel limit for neighbor noise. § 17-3-103 bans domestic noise that unreasonably disturbs the peace, quiet, and comfort of the neighboring inhabitants, and domestic noise means noise from human activity, including voices, radios, musical instruments and household tools, but not machinery, tools or equipment used for a business purpose (§ 17-3-101). The numbers come from Maryland's environmental noise standards, COMAR 26.02.03.02, Table 1 "Maximum Allowable Noise Levels (dBA) for Receiving Land Use Categories": industrial 75 dBA by day and at night; commercial 67 dBA by day and 62 dBA at night; residential 65 dBA by day and 55 dBA at night, set by the use of the property receiving the noise. Construction and demolition may reach 90 dBA in daytime hours; prominent discrete tones and periodic noises must stay 5 dBA below the table; air conditioners may not exceed 70 dBA and heat pumps 75 dBA at receiving residential property; and vibration that a neighbor can feel or see at or inside their property line is not allowed. Readings are taken on or within the property line of the receiving property with a sound level meter meeting at least the Type II specification (COMAR 26.02.03.02 D). Exempt are, among others, motor vehicles on public roads, licensed airports, emergency operations, household pets on residential property kept in line with local zoning, and sound that is not electronically amplified from sporting events, entertainment events and permitted public gatherings between 7 a.m. and midnight. Since October 1, 2012 the Maryland Department of the Environment no longer enforces noise; it sets the statewide standards and refers local complaints to local contacts, which for Baltimore County is the County Police. The County's zoning regulations write the state levels into particular uses: events at a catering hall converted from a dwelling in the R.C.2 zone of the Hanover Pike Corridor Study Area may not exceed the COMAR commercial levels (BCZR § 402.3); live musical entertainment permit holders, and the Hunt Valley/Timonium theater and concert use, must meet the COMAR levels (BCZR §§ 449.2, 253.1); data centers and energy storage devices in the R.C.5 zone must comply with COMAR 26.02.03.02 and Article 17, Title 3 (BCZR § 443.1); and firewood operations next to homes that exceed the COMAR levels are subject to that regulation (BCZR § 404.9). The one decibel figure written into the County Code itself applies only to County-owned or operated animal shelters: 60 dBA by day (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) and 50 dBA at night (§ 12-6-106).

What the ordinance actually says

§ 17-3-103: "A person may not create domestic noise or allow domestic noise to be created that unreasonably disturbs the peace, quiet, and comfort of the neighboring inhabitants."

§ 17-3-101(b)(1): domestic noise "means noise related to human activity that is not created by machinery, tools, mechanical devices, or equipment used in connection with a business purpose."

§ 17-3-106(a)(1): "A police officer may issue a civil citation to the owner or landlord of the building or premises from which domestic noise in violation of § 17-3-103 of this title emanates if more than three written reports have been filed under § 17-3-104 of this title, at one address, within a 60-day period."

§ 13-7-131(l): an unruly social gathering is "a party, event, or assemblage of four or more persons at a residence or other private property where:" ... "(2) Behavior or conduct is occurring that results in a substantial disturbance of the peace and quiet enjoyment of private or public property, which may include the following: (i) Excessive noise as prohibited in § 17-3-103 of the Code;"

COMAR 26.02.03.02 B(1): "A person may not cause or permit noise levels which exceed those specified in this table except as provided in §B(2) or (3), or §C, of this regulation."

COMAR 26.02.03.01: "(4) “Daytime hours” means 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time." and "(14) “Nighttime hours” means 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., local time."

Baltimore County Zoning Regulations § 402.3: "Sound levels for events may not exceed the maximum allowable noise levels ("DBA") for commercial uses set forth in Comar Section 26.02.03.02."

§ 12-3-109(a): a public nuisance animal is one that, among other things, "(3) Excessively makes disturbing noises;"

Quoted verbatim from the official codified text (Baltimore County Code and COMAR 26.02.03, with related County and state provisions. Baltimore County Code (2015) on Municode, "Codified through Bill. No. 20-26, effective February 17, 2026. (Supp. No. 29)", online content updated July 22, 2026: Article 17 "Miscellaneous Provisions and Offenses", Title 3 "Noise", §§ 17-3-101 to 17-3-106 (1988 Code, §§ 20-45 to 20-50; Bill No. 123-93, § 2, 10-25-1993; Bill No. 114-99, § 3, 7-1-2004); § 17-1-108 (disorderly conduct on another's premises); Article 13, Title 7, Subtitle 1, Part IV "Unruly Social Gatherings", §§ 13-7-131 to 13-7-135 (Bill No. 90-15, 2-1-2016, through Bill No. 60-21, 7-21-2021); Article 13, Title 11, Subtitle 1 "Public Nuisance Alarms", §§ 13-11-101 to 13-11-103; Article 12 "Animals", § 12-3-109 public nuisance animals (renumbered § 12-3-107 with the same words by Bill No. 32-26, enacted 05/12/26, effective 05/26/26, which Municode lists among adopted ordinances not yet codified) and § 12-6-106 (County animal shelters); Article 30, § 30-1-201 (parks). Baltimore County Zoning Regulations on Municode, §§ 253.1, 402.3, 404.9, 443.1 and 449.2 (uses tied to the COMAR noise levels). State law: Code of Maryland Regulations 26.02.03.01 (definitions) and 26.02.03.02 "Environmental Noise Standards" (Maryland Department of the Environment), read on dsd.maryland.gov; Annotated Code of Maryland, Criminal Law § 10-201 (disturbing the peace), read on mgaleg.maryland.gov. Text read 2026-10-27.). Verified against the live code on 2026-10-27. 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 Baltimore County

For a loud party, music or other household noise happening now, call Baltimore County Police at the non-emergency number, 410-887-2222, or 911 for an emergency; the Police Department's page lists 410-887-2222 for non-emergencies, and the Maryland Department of the Environment's list of local noise contacts names Baltimore County Police at the same non-emergency number. Under § 17-3-104 a police officer investigates domestic noise complaints and files a written report when a violation of § 17-3-103 has occurred, and those reports are what later allow a citation to the owner or landlord (§ 17-3-106). Police also enforce the unruly social gathering rule (§ 13-7-135) and deal with public nuisance alarms, first trying to reach the owner and then, if that fails, seeking a court order to enter and silence the alarm (§ 13-11-103). For barking dogs and other animal nuisances, contact Baltimore County Animal Services online or at 410-887-PAWS (7297), option 4; its page says citations are issued based on the information received from the complainant, who may be directed to complete an Affidavit of Complaint (a signed, notarized first-hand statement that is public information), and that complainants and witnesses must attend a hearing if the owner appeals. BaltCo 311 (dial 311, or 410-887-0311 from outside the county) monitors service requests only Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and noise is not among the issues listed on its page. Sources: https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/police, https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/Marylander/PublicHealth/Pages/noise.aspx, https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/animal-services/animal-complaints and https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/report-problem.

Step by step, with what to log and what to expect after you file: how to file a noise complaint in Baltimore County. 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) Jurisdiction: Baltimore City is a separate jurisdiction with its own Health Code noise limits (see the Baltimore page); this page covers Baltimore County. (2) Penalties for domestic noise (§ 17-3-105): a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500, up to 90 days in jail, or both for a first offense, and a fine of not less than $500, up to 90 days, or both for a later offense; instead of a criminal case the police may issue a civil citation of up to $500, and they may ask the County to seek an injunction. (3) Landlords and owners (§ 17-3-106): once more than three written police reports have been filed for one address within 60 days, police may cite the owner or landlord, after the Chief of Police or a designee sends written notice, by certified mail or delivery, that three reports have been filed within 60 days; the civil penalty is up to $500 for the first citation and up to $750 for each further citation within 6 months of the first report. (4) Unruly social gatherings (§§ 13-7-131 to 13-7-135): a party or gathering of four or more people at a home or other private property where conduct causes a substantial disturbance, which may include excessive noise under § 17-3-103, is a civil offense; within 24 months the responsible persons face $500 and 20 hours of community service, then $1,000 and 32 hours, then $1,000 and 48 hours, while the property owner gets a warning, then a $500 penalty, then $1,000 and possible suspension or revocation of the rental license; community service must be done within two miles of the gathering; family gatherings and legally protected religious activities are excluded; an owner of leased premises who did not authorize, know of in advance or take part in the gathering and has acted to regain possession has a defense. The code's editor's note says Bill No. 60-21 removed the pilot program, which was to expire November 1, 2022. (5) State law adds a criminal route: under Maryland Criminal Law § 10-201(c)(5) a person from any location may not willfully disturb the peace of another on the other's land or premises, in a public place or on a public conveyance by making an unreasonably loud noise (up to 60 days or a $500 fine or both, § 10-201(d)); the County's § 17-1-108 separately bars entering another person's land and willfully making loud and unseemly noises (fine up to $500, up to 3 months, or both). (6) Public nuisance alarms carry a civil penalty of $50 to $500 for each offense (§ 13-11-102). (7) Animals: an owner may not allow an animal to be a public nuisance animal, which includes one that excessively makes disturbing noises (§ 12-3-109, renumbered § 12-3-107 with the same words by Bill No. 32-26, effective May 26, 2026); the code sets no minutes or decibels for private pets, but County animal shelters are held to 60 dBA by day and 50 dBA at night, with examples such as five minutes of uninterrupted vocalizing (an average of four or more vocalizations a minute) or 20 minutes of intermittent vocalizing (an average of two or more a minute) (§ 12-6-106). (8) Parks: a person may not play an audio device or create excessive noise so as to disturb the peace, and using a loudspeaker or public address system in a park needs a permit (§ 30-1-201(u), (e)(2)). (9) COMAR's state standards also exempt trash collection from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and marina boat-moving equipment from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. if it stays at or below 80 dBA at 20 meters (COMAR 26.02.03.02 C).

Document it before you report it

Baltimore County'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 Baltimore noise map. For time-stamped measurement history you can show a landlord or code officer, the app keeps a log.