Noise ordinances › Frederick County, MD

Frederick County noise ordinance: quiet hours, limits and complaints

Last updated: November 9, 2026

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Quiet hours in Frederick County

§ 1-11-6 sets a day and night clock for its decibel limits; it does not ban noise at night as such. Daytime hours are 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and nighttime hours are 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., local time (§ 1-11-6(B)), the same hours as Maryland's state standard (COMAR 26.02.03.01). At night the limit for noise received on residential property falls from 65 to 55 dBA. Construction and demolition sites may reach 90 dBA during daytime hours and must meet the Table 1 levels during nighttime hours (§ 1-11-6(C)(2)). Lawn care and snow removal equipment is exempt during daytime hours only (§ 1-11-6(F)(3)). Blasting is exempt between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and pile driving between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (§ 1-11-6(F)(5), (10)). Trash and recycling collection is exempt between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. (§ 1-11-6(F)(15)). Sound that is not electronically amplified, from sporting, amusement and entertainment events and other public gatherings operating under terms and conditions imposed by the County, is exempt between 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 midnight (§ 1-11-6(F)(11)), and sporting events run by schools, colleges or recreational leagues on Board of Education, County or municipally owned properties are exempt between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. (§ 1-11-6(F)(17)). Household tools and portable appliances in normal usage are exempt at any hour (§ 1-11-6(F)(2)); the state regulation exempts them in daytime hours only. The dog and cat noise rule applies at any hour, except that commercial operations with special exception and site plan approval are outside it between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. (§ 1-5-25(C)).

Decibel limits

Yes. § 1-11-6(C)(1) bars noise from any property that is received on residential property above the levels in its Table 1, "Maximum Allowable Noise Levels (dBA) for Receiving Land Use Categories", which repeats Maryland's state table (COMAR 26.02.03.02B(1)): residential 65 dBA by day and 55 dBA at night; commercial 67 dBA by day and 62 dBA at night; industrial 75 dBA day and night. The subsection is headed for residential areas as receiving property and its rule is written for levels received on residential property. dBA is the sound level in decibels on the A-weighting network of a sound level meter, or calculated from octave band or one-third octave band data (§ 1-11-6(B)). Readings are taken at points on or within the property line of the receiving property, or the boundary of a land use area, with a meter that meets or exceeds the specifications for Type II sound level meters (§ 1-11-6(D)). Construction and demolition-site activities: 90 dBA during daytime hours, and the Table 1 levels during nighttime hours (§ 1-11-6(C)(2)). Air conditioning and heat pump equipment that cools or heats housing on residential property is outside the Table 1 rule but has its own cap: 70 dBA for air-conditioning equipment and 75 dBA for heat pump equipment at receiving residential property (§ 1-11-6(F)(14)). Off-road recreational vehicles with internal combustion engines, such as dirt bikes, all terrain vehicles and go carts, may not be run on private property within 300 feet of a neighboring residence without the affected resident's written permission, unless the operator can show that the vehicle, at all of its operating speeds, will not push noise over the Table 1 levels at the receiving property line (§ 1-11-6(E)(2)). The section does not repeat the state regulation's rule that prominent discrete tones and periodic noises stay 5 dBA below the table, or its vibration rule (COMAR 26.02.03.02B(3), (4)). § 1-11-6 has no plainly audible test and no unreasonable-noise test, so for neighbor noise the measured level is the test. Barking is handled separately, with no decibel figure: § 1-5-25 bans letting a dog or cat repeatedly bark, cry, howl or whine so as to disturb people living in the vicinity, judged by reasonable persons with normal sensitivities to noise.

What the ordinance actually says

§ 1-11-6(C)(1): "Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and in subsection (F) of this section, a person may not cause or permit noise levels emanating from any property, such that the levels received on residential property exceed the levels contained in Table 1 below."

§ 1-11-6(B): "DAYTIME HOURS. 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., local time." and "NIGHTTIME HOURS. 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., local time."

§ 1-11-6(A): "The County Council finds that excessive noise harms public health and welfare and impairs enjoyment of property."

§ 1-11-6(C)(2): "A person may not cause or permit noise levels emanating from construction or demolition-site activities that exceed: (i) During daytime hours, 90 dBA; or (ii) During nighttime hours, the levels specified in Table 1 above"

§ 1-11-6(D)(1): "The measurement of noise levels under this subsection shall be conducted at points on or within the property line of the receiving property (or the boundary of a land use area) and may be conducted at any point for the determination of identity in multiple source situations."

§ 1-11-6(E)(2): "A person may not operate or permit to be operated an off-road internal combustion engine powered recreational vehicle, including, but not limited to, a dirt bike, an all terrain vehicle, a go cart, a snowmobile, or a similar vehicle, on private property closer than 300 feet to a neighboring residence, without the written permission of the affected resident, unless the operator of the vehicle can demonstrate that the operation of the vehicle, at all of its operating speeds, within 300 feet of the neighboring residence, will not cause the noise levels set forth in (C)(1) above to be exceeded at the receiving property line."

§ 1-11-6(F)(15): "Trash and recycling collection between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.;"

§ 1-11-7(A): "A violation of § 1-11-6 shall be subject to enforcement by the Director of the Division of Planning and Permitting or the Director's designees, the Zoning Administrator, or the Sheriff of Frederick County and the Sheriff's designees ("Enforcement Official"), pursuant to § 1-1-9 of the Code."

§ 1-11-7(B): "The Enforcement Official is not required to issue a warning notice."

§ 1-11-7(C): "A first offense shall be deemed a Class E civil offense. Each subsequent offense by the same individual or property owner(s) shall be cited at the next highest Class of offense."

§ 1-1-9(Q): "Where it appears there is an intentional violation of the County Code has occurred, criminal action may be brought and a fine of up to $1,000.00 and imprisonment not exceeding 6 months may be imposed."

§ 1-5-25(A): "It shall be unlawful for any dog or cat owner to permit, either willfully or through failure to exercise due care and control, his dog or cat to repeatedly bark, cry, howl, whine or cause other objectionable noises which disturb the comfort, peace, quiet or repose of members of the community residing in the vicinity as reflected by reasonable persons with normal sensitivities to noise."

Environment Article § 3-401(c)(3): "The sound level limits and noise control rules and regulations adopted under this subsection may not prohibit trapshooting or other target shooting on any range or other property in Frederick County that the Frederick County Department of Planning and Zoning has approved as a place for those sporting events."

Quoted verbatim from the official text (Frederick County Code Chapter 1-11 (Health and Sanitation), Article I, §§ 1-11-6 and 1-11-7, with related County and state provisions. Frederick County Code on American Legal Publishing, version 2026 S-45 (current), "Local legislation current through Bill No. 26-10, passed September 1, 2026": § 1-11-6 "Nuisance - Noise Levels" and § 1-11-7 "Enforcement and Penalties" (both Bill No. 16-15, 11-1-2016); § 1-1-9 "Enforcement of County Laws and Regulations" (Bill No. 16-16, 10-4-2016); § 1-5-25 "Offensive Dog and Cat Noises" (Ord. 94-24-119, 11-15-1994; Ord. 14-23-678, 11-13-2014). State law: Annotated Code of Maryland, Environment Article § 3-401, read on mgaleg.maryland.gov; Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 26.02.03.01 and 26.02.03.02 (Environmental Noise Standards), read on regs.maryland.gov. Text read 2026-11-09.). Verified against the live code on 2026-11-09. 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 Frederick County

For noise outside the cities and towns that have their own police, call the Frederick County Sheriff's Office Non-Emergency Dispatch at 301-600-2071, or 911 in an emergency: the Sheriff is one of the officials who can enforce § 1-11-6 (§ 1-11-7(A)). The others are the Director of the Division of Planning and Permitting or the Director's designees, and the Zoning Administrator. Two official sources differ on the number. The Sheriff's Office lists 301-600-2071 as Non-Emergency Dispatch. The County's guide "Getting the Help You Need in Frederick County, MD" (Version 1 06/2025) places noise complaints under 301-600-1603 or other non-emergency numbers; the same guide lists 301-600-1603 as Frederick County Animal Control's after-hours emergency line and 301-600-2071 as the Sheriff's Office police non-emergency number, which is why the Sheriff's own number comes first here. No County or Sheriff's page we read sets out a noise complaint process beyond those numbers. The Sheriff's online reporting page does not show noise among the incident types it names and says to call if an incident is not in its category list. Inside a municipality with its own police, the Sheriff's online reporting page says incidents within the City of Frederick, Thurmont, Brunswick, Walkersville or Mount Airy must go to those local police departments, and that the Maryland State Police handle all incidents within the Town of Walkersville. The County guide lists police non-emergency numbers of 301-600-2102 for Frederick City, 410-386-2860 for Mt. Airy, and 301-600-2071 for Brunswick and Thurmont. The Division of Planning and Permitting is at 30 N. Market St., Frederick, 301-600-2313, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For a barking dog, call Frederick County Animal Control at 301-600-1544 or use the County's online Citizen Request for Service form for Animal Control, which is for non-emergency requests. The form page says Animal Control Officers keep office hours from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Sunday; the County guide says 7 days a week, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Penalties: the enforcement official is not required to issue a warning notice (§ 1-11-7(B)). A first offense is a Class E civil offense, fined $25 to $50, and each subsequent offense by the same individual or property owner is cited at the next highest class: Class D $50 to $100, Class C $100 to $250, Class B $250 to $500, Class A $500 to $1,000 (§§ 1-11-7(C), 1-1-9(E)). If the fine is not paid and no trial is requested, the enforcing agency may double it, to no more than $1,000 (§ 1-1-9(I)). Where a violation of the County Code appears intentional, criminal action may be brought, with a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 6 months in jail (§ 1-1-9(Q)). Sources: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/frederickcounty/latest/frederickco_md/0-0-0-15906 (§ 1-11-7), https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/frederickcounty/latest/frederickco_md/0-0-0-57479 (§ 1-1-9), https://www.frederickcosheriff.com/phone-numbers-fcso, https://www.frederickcosheriff.com/online-reporting, https://www.frederickcountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/356915/Getting-the-Help-You-Need-, https://www.frederickcountymd.gov/7989/Regulations-and-Ordinances and https://frederickcountymd.gov/forms.aspx?fid=105.

Step by step, with what to log and what to expect after you file: how to file a noise complaint in Frederick 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) Where it applies: § 1-11-6 does not say whether it reaches inside the county's cities and towns, and we read no County page that answers it. In practice the Sheriff's Office sends incidents inside the City of Frederick, Thurmont, Brunswick, Walkersville and Mount Airy to those places' police (the State Police for Walkersville), so inside a municipality ask the city or town first; the County's guide lists town office numbers for Brunswick, Burkittsville, Emmitsburg, Frederick, Middletown, Mt. Airy, Myersville, New Market, Thurmont, Walkersville and Woodsboro. None of those places has its own page here. Washington, D.C. is a separate jurisdiction (see the Washington page); this page's map link goes there because the County's own places are not in our noise map. (2) An out-of-date copy is still on the County's own website: a County-hosted PDF of Chapter 1-11 shows the 2007 noise ordinance (Ord. 07-14-454), which adopted the state regulation by reference and made a violation a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500 and up to 10 days in jail. The current code, on American Legal Publishing, shows §§ 1-11-6 and 1-11-7 with the history line Bill No. 16-15, 11-1-2016, the County's own table and civil fines. The current code controls. (3) No warning needed, and the class climbs: an official may cite without a warning notice, and each later offense by the same person or property owner moves up one class, from $25 to $50 at Class E to $500 to $1,000 at Class A (§§ 1-11-7, 1-1-9(E)). (4) A neighbor's affidavit can start a case: an enforcement official may serve a citation on the basis of an affidavit that cites the facts of the alleged infraction and is submitted to a designated enforcement official (§ 1-1-9(G)(1)(b)). If the person cited asks for a trial, the County must prove the infraction by clear and convincing evidence (§ 1-1-9(K)(1)(e)), and the court may order the person to abate the infraction (§ 1-1-9(L)(4)). (5) A meter decides: § 1-11-6 has no plainly audible or disturbance test, so a complaint about music or a party turns on a reading taken on or within the property line of the home that receives the noise. (6) Local exemptions a resident might not expect (§ 1-11-6(F)): carnivals, fairs and amusements conducted by civic and service organizations, with no hours stated; school, college and recreational league sporting events on Board of Education, County or municipally owned properties from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.; trapshooting, skeet shooting or other target shooting on a range or property approved by the Division of Planning and Permitting; railroads; agricultural field machinery used and maintained to the manufacturer's specifications; motor vehicles on public roads; and construction and repair work on public property. The rest of the list: emergency warning devices, aircraft and airport operations at state-licensed airports, boats on State waters and motor vehicles on State lands under the Department of Natural Resources, and emergency operations. State law has rules that match two of these: the state's limits may not prohibit target shooting on a Frederick County range approved by the County's planning department (Environment Article § 3-401(c)(3)), and the state's noise standards do not reach a fair listed in the Maryland Agricultural Fairs and Shows Schedule in Frederick County or Frederick City, or any other event held on the same grounds (§ 3-401(d)(1)(iii)). (7) Household tools and portable appliances in normal usage are exempt at any hour (§ 1-11-6(F)(2)), where the state regulation exempts them in daytime hours only, and blasting is exempt from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (8) Dirt bikes and all terrain vehicles: besides the 300-foot rule, nobody may run an off-road recreational vehicle with an internal combustion engine on private property without the express written permission of a person owning an interest in the property (§ 1-11-6(E)(1)). (9) Dogs and cats: § 1-5-25 covers repeated barking, crying, howling or whining that disturbs people living in the vicinity. It does not apply to hunting dogs barking in pursuit of game while supervised by their owners or trainers, or, between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., to commercial operations with special exception and site plan approval. The household pets exemption in the state regulation is not in § 1-11-6. The penalty section for the animal chapter was not read. (10) The County's code page warns that amendments may take several weeks to be published online.

Document it before you report it

Frederick 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 see the nearest city we map, on the Washington noise map. For time-stamped measurement history you can show a landlord or code officer, the app keeps a log.