Noise ordinances › Boise, ID

Boise noise ordinance: quiet hours, limits and complaints

Last updated: October 21, 2026

Documenting this? A dated log of when the noise started, when it stopped and how loud it got is what Boise acts on. Log noise levels for a complaint — free, runs in your browser, records no audio.

Quiet hours in Boise

None. The noise chapter (5-7) and the vehicle chapters (6-16, 6-17) set no quiet hours and no construction hours: the amplification-device test (5-7-3) and the vehicle tests (6-16-2, 6-17-5) contain no time band and apply at all hours. Clock limits appear only through permits: parades, fireworks displays and other events that require and have obtained a permit are exempt "within such hours as may be imposed as a condition for the issuance of said permit" (5-7-4.C), and vehicle sound systems used under a special event permit, such as parade floats, only within the days and hours conditioned under the permit (6-16-3.E).

Decibel limits — or rather, the lack of them

No numeric decibel limits. Section 5-7-3 makes it unlawful to operate, or permit the operation of, any loud amplification device so that its sound is plainly audible within any place of residence not the source of the sound, or plainly audible upon a public right-of-way or street at a distance of one hundred feet or more from the source. Definitions (5-7-2): a loud amplification device is "Any equipment designed or used for sound production, reproduction or amplification", including any radio, television, phonograph, musical instrument, stereo, tape player, compact disc player, loud speaker, public address (PA) system, sound amplifier or comparable device; "plainly audible" means sound whose information content is clearly communicated to the listener, such as understandable speech, whether a voice is raised or normal, or comprehensible musical rhythms, melody or instrumentation, "and the source of which is identifiable to the listener"; and in a building with multiple units (apartment, condominium, hotel, motel, duplex, triplex) each unit is a separate residence. Vehicles (Chapter 6-16): a sound amplification device upon or within a motor vehicle may not be plainly audible upon a public street or highway at fifty feet or more (6-16-2.A), and no one may start, drive or be stationary in a motor vehicle in a manner causing unreasonable noise, including unnecessary engine revving, plainly audible on a public street or highway at fifty feet or more (6-16-2.B). Exhaust (Chapter 6-17): every motor vehicle operated in the City must at all times have a muffler in good working order and in constant operation, and an original or legally required noise suppressing system must be maintained (6-17-5.A-B); it is prohibited to operate a vehicle with a disconnected muffler system or an exhaust or sound suppression system in disrepair, to modify a muffler system except to the manufacturer's specifications, to engage a muffler cutout or bypass on public streets or highways, to modify an exhaust system so the vehicle is louder than with its original muffler, to make electronic software changes that cause fuel to combust in the exhaust system, or to operate a vehicle producing excessive noise (6-17-5.C), defined as any sound made by a motor vehicle that is "unreasonably loud or unusual, including but not limited to, noises that simulate gunfire" (6-17-4).

What the ordinance actually says

5-7-3: "It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or permit the operation of any loud amplification device in such a manner that the sound therefrom: A. Is plainly audible within any place of residence not the source of the sound; or B. Is plainly audible upon a public right-of-way or street at a distance of one hundred feet (100') or more from the source of such sound."

5-7-2: "PLACE OF RESIDENCE: Any building or portion thereof adapted or used and intended for the overnight accommodation of persons. In the event the building is used for multiple individual units (i.e., apartment, condominium, hotel, motel, duplex, triplex, etc.) each individual unit shall be considered a separate residence for the purposes of this chapter."

5-7-4.I: "Notwithstanding any other provision in this section, sounds caused by the exercise of a right guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or Article I, Sections 9 and 10 of the Idaho Constitution; including, for example, but not limited to, rallies, marches, addresses, and performances on or in any public street, way, sidewalk, plaza, or park."

6-16-2.A: "It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or permit the operation of any sound amplification device upon or within a motor vehicle in such a manner that the sound therefrom is plainly audible upon a public street or highway at a distance of fifty feet (50') or more from the source of such sound."

6-16-2.B: "It shall be unlawful for any person to start a motor vehicle, drive a motor vehicle, or be stationary in a motor vehicle, in a manner causing unreasonable noise including, but not limited to, unnecessary motor vehicle engine revving, when the sound therefrom is plainly audible upon a public street or highway at a distance of fifty feet (50') or more from the source of such sound."

5-7-7: "Any person who shall violate any of the terms or provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of an infraction and shall be subject to penalty as provided in section 1-4-2 of this Code."

Quoted verbatim from the official codified text (Boise City Code, Title 5 "Public Safety", Chapter 7 "Noise Control": 5-7-1 Purpose (1952 Code § 6-20-01), 5-7-2 Definitions (1952 Code § 6-20-02), 5-7-3 Noise Prohibitions (1952 Code § 6-20-03), 5-7-4 Exemptions (1952 Code § 6-20-06; amd. Ord. 21-25, 7-8-2025), 5-7-5 Provisions Cumulative (1952 Code § 6-20-05), 5-7-6 Enforcement (1952 Code § 6-20-04), 5-7-7 Penalty (1952 Code § 6-20-07; amd. 2019 Code). Title 6 "Motor Vehicles and Traffic": Chapter 16 "Vehicle Amplified Sounds", 6-16-1 Purpose And Scope, 6-16-2 Vehicular Amplified Sound Prohibitions, 6-16-3 Exemptions, 6-16-4 Penalty (1952 Code §§ 10-20-01, -02, -05, -06; each amd. Ord. 13-23, 3-28-2023); Chapter 17 "Excessive Exhaust and Muffler Noise", 6-17-1 Legal Authority, 6-17-2 Purpose, 6-17-3 Scope, 6-17-4 Definitions, 6-17-5 Motor Vehicle Muffler General Requirements And Prohibitions, 6-17-6 Excessive Fumes, Smoke Or Exhaust, 6-17-7 Exemptions, 6-17-8 Penalty (Ord. 25-17, 7-25-2017; 6-17-3, 6-17-4, 6-17-5 and 6-17-8 amd. Ord. 14-23, 3-28-2023). Penalties refer to Title 1, 1-4-1 and 1-4-2. Text read on American Legal Publishing, the City's code host, edition "2026 S-31 (current)", on 2026-10-21.). Verified against the live code on 2026-10-21. 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 Boise

Boise Police: the department's page lists "Non-emergency dispatch/Request an officer" (208) 377-6790 and "Boise Police Records/General questions" (208) 570-6000, says "If this is an emergency, please call 911.", and says "Online reports are for non-emergencies, neighborhood concerns, traffic concerns, and abandoned vehicles." Its Report a Crime page says online reports are reviewed within a few days and "If you need immediate assistance please call dispatch at 208-377-6790." The City's "Who Do I Call?" guide (PDF on cityofboise.org, undated) lists NOISE at 208-377-6790 with the note "Prohibited if amplified noise can be clearly heard within residence or at a distance of over 100 feet." and ANIMAL CONTROL at 208-343-3166 to "Report barking dogs" among other animal problems. Under the code, any City peace officer or person empowered to enforce the chapter may issue a citation on their own observation without a citizen complainant's signature, and a citizen in whose presence a violation occurred may sign a citation if it is witnessed by a City peace officer or other enforcing person whose name is endorsed on it (5-7-6). Sources: https://www.cityofboise.org/departments/police/, https://www.cityofboise.org/departments/police/report-a-crime/, https://www.cityofboise.org/media/4214/whodoicall.pdf.

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

Worth knowing

Notable quirks: (1) The general rule reaches only loud amplification devices, a term the code defines to include musical instruments as well as radios, stereos, televisions, loudspeakers and PA systems; Chapter 5-7 has no rule for voices, animals or construction noise (5-7-2, 5-7-3), and the chapter's stated policy is to regulate sound generated by loud amplification devices (5-7-1). (2) In apartments, condominiums, hotels, motels, duplexes and triplexes each unit is a separate residence, so sound plainly audible in a neighbor's unit is covered (5-7-2), but devices used in a multi-unit facility's common areas (pools, patios, lounges, laundry rooms and the like) with the owners' or management's approval, and in compliance with their rules, are exempt in relation to other units in the same facility (5-7-4.H). (3) A First Amendment exemption was added on July 8, 2025: sounds from exercising rights under the First Amendment or Article I, Sections 9 and 10 of the Idaho Constitution, such as rallies, marches, addresses and performances on or in any public street, way, sidewalk, plaza or park, are exempt "Notwithstanding any other provision in this section" (5-7-4.I, Ord. 21-25). (4) Other exemptions (5-7-4.A-G): emergency vehicles or personnel responding to an emergency call or acting in time of emergency; activities on outdoor municipal, school, religious or publicly owned property authorized by the owner; parades, fireworks displays and other permitted events within the permit's hours; locomotives and other railroad equipment; burglar alarms that are not in violation of the Code; safety warning devices required by law; and devices approved for the zoning designation or under a conditional use permit, such as drive-through window speakers and car lot PA systems. (5) Vehicle exemptions (6-16-3): sirens and other amplified sound systems of authorized emergency vehicles, vehicular safety warning devices required by law, vehicular burglar or emergency alarms used to request assistance or warn of hazardous situations, vehicle sound systems used for advertising (for example, ice cream trucks), and vehicle sound systems used under a special event permit (for example, parade floats). Chapter 6-17 does not apply to unregistered vehicles driven solely on private property not open to the public, commercial vehicles exempt from emissions testing under the Ada County Air Quality Board's rules, or antique and classic vehicles with Idaho Old Timers or Classic plates used as collectors' items (6-17-7). (6) Citizen citations: besides an officer citing on their own observation, a citizen in whose presence a violation occurred may sign the citation if a City peace officer or other enforcing person witnesses it and is endorsed on it (5-7-6). (7) Penalties: a Chapter 5-7 violation is an infraction subject to the penalty in 1-4-2 (5-7-7); vehicle amplified sound violations are infractions under 1-4-2, excluding court costs and fees, with no right to a jury trial (6-16-4); exhaust and muffler violations are infractions under 1-4-2, excluding court costs and fees, with no jury trial, and a second or subsequent offense within one year is a misdemeanor under 1-4-1 (6-17-8). (8) The chapter is cumulative: it does not affect any other claim, cause of action or remedy, and is additional to existing legislation and common law on noise (5-7-5). (9) Chapter 6-17 also requires every vehicle's engine to be equipped and operated to prevent excessive fumes, smoke or exhaust (6-17-6). (10) The City's "Who Do I Call?" guide says amplified noise is prohibited if heard at a distance "of over 100 feet", while 5-7-3 says "one hundred feet (100') or more", and the guide does not mention the 2025 First Amendment exemption.

Document it before you report it

Boise enforces mostly by audibility, but a log of measured levels still makes a complaint concrete and credible. 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 Boise noise map. For time-stamped measurement history you can show a landlord or code officer, the app keeps a log.