Noise ordinances › Lubbock, TX

Lubbock noise ordinance: quiet hours, limits and complaints

Last updated: October 5, 2026

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Quiet hours in Lubbock

§ 14.04.003(b) lists three sources with a night band, each 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. the following day with no weekday or weekend difference: operating equipment used in commercial construction, repair, alteration or demolition work on buildings, structures, streets, alleys or appurtenances (§ 14.04.003(b)(4)); operating any power equipment in residential zones outdoors (§ 14.04.003(b)(5)); and operating any mechanical, electrical or electronic device in a residential area (§ 14.04.003(b)(8)). Each of those three items also covers operation at any hour "in such a manner as to unreasonably disturb or interfere with" neighbors' sleep, peace, comfort or repose (the construction item says "comfort, and repose"), so daytime operation is not automatically allowed. Animals, radios, televisions, musical instruments and similar devices, exterior loudspeakers, generators for inflatable play equipment, sound in places of public entertainment, outdoor emergency signaling devices and other sources such as the human voice, fireworks and motor vehicle horns (§ 14.04.003(b)(1)-(3), (6), (7), (9), (10)) have no clock band: they are judged by the unreasonable-disturbance standard at any hour. The intentional outdoor sounding of a fire, burglar or civil defense alarm, siren, whistle or similar stationary emergency signaling device for more than five minutes during any consecutive 60-minute period, in a manner that unreasonably disturbs or interferes with neighbors, is listed separately (§ 14.04.003(b)(9)).

Decibel limits — or rather, the lack of them

None for neighborhood noise. Article 14.04 contains no decibel limit, zone table or property-line measurement rule; § 14.04.003(b) lists "specific noises which can constitute a noise disturbance" and, apart from the three 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. clock rules, tests each against whether it unreasonably disturbs or interferes with the sleep, peace, comfort or repose of neighboring persons of ordinary sensibilities. The only decibel figure in the article is a signage trigger, not a limit: in a place of public entertainment, a loudspeaker or other source of sound that produces maximum sound pressure levels of 100 dBA, as read on a sound level meter at a point normally occupied by the customer, may not be operated unless a conspicuous and legible sign is posted near each public entrance stating "Warning Sound Levels Within May Cause Permanent Hearing Impairment"; the same clause says this does not allow operation that unreasonably disturbs neighbors (§ 14.04.003(b)(7)). § 14.01.001 defines "noise" as any sound that endangers or injures the safety or health of any person, is unwanted and causes or tends to cause annoyance or disturbance to a reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities, or invades, endangers, injures or negatively affects personal or real property. Separately, state law applies everywhere in Texas: under Texas Penal Code § 42.01(a)(5), a person who intentionally or knowingly makes unreasonable noise in a public place other than a sport shooting range, or in or near a private residence that he has no right to occupy, commits disorderly conduct (a Class C misdemeanor, § 42.01(d)), and under § 42.01(c)(2) a noise is presumed unreasonable if it exceeds a decibel level of 85 after the person making it receives notice from a magistrate or peace officer that the noise is a public nuisance.

What the ordinance actually says

§ 14.04.003(b): "Unless a permit of variance is first obtained from the city, the following sounds are hereby determined to be specific noises which can constitute a noise disturbance."

§ 14.04.003(b)(2): "Operating or permitting to be operated in a fixed or movable position or mounted upon or within any vehicle in or upon any street, alley, sidewalk, park, place, or public or private property any radio receiving set, musical instrument, television, phonograph, drum, or other machine or device for the production or reproduction of sound or vibrations in such a manner as to unreasonably disturb or interfere with the sleep, peace, comfort, or repose of neighboring persons of ordinary sensibilities."

§ 14.04.003(b)(4): "Operating or permitting to be operated any equipment used in commercial construction, repair, alteration, or demolition work on buildings, structures, streets, alleys, or appurtenances thereto, between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the following day, or in such a manner as to unreasonably disturb or interfere with the sleep, peace, comfort, and repose of neighboring persons of ordinary sensibilities."

§ 14.04.003(b)(5): "Operating or permitting to be operated any power equipment in residential zones outdoors between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the following day, or in such a manner as to unreasonably disturb or interfere with the sleep, peace, comfort, or repose of neighboring persons of ordinary sensibilities."

§ 14.04.010: "A violation of any of the provisions of this article shall constitute a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00). Each day a violation is committed or continues shall constitute and be punishable as a separate offense."

Quoted verbatim from the official codified text (City of Lubbock Code of Ordinances, Title I "General Ordinances," Chapter 14 "Offenses and Additional Provisions," Article 14.04 "Noise," §§ 14.04.001 (policy), 14.04.002 (administration), 14.04.003 (prohibited noises), 14.04.004 (motor vehicle noise), 14.04.005 to 14.04.008 (permit of variance: application, rescheduling, fees, appeal), 14.04.009 (exceptions) and 14.04.010 (penalty); definitions of "noise" and related terms in § 14.01.001. History notes as printed: 1983 Code §§ 18-4.1 to 18-4.8; Ordinance 2006-O0103, sec. II (adopted 10/13/2006); Ordinance 2007-O0095 (adopted 9/27/2007, §§ 14.04.005 and 14.04.008); Ordinance 2012-O0084, sec. 1 (adopted 8/23/2012; the only source shown for §§ 14.04.006 and 14.04.010); § 14.04.003 last amended by Ordinance 2015-O0050, sec. 1 (adopted 5/28/2015). eCode360 version 2026-07-28: "Includes legislation through Ord. No. 2026-O0088 adopted July 28, 2026." Text read on 2026-10-05.). Verified against the live code on 2026-10-05. 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 Lubbock

Per the Lubbock Police Department page: "For non-emergencies call: 806-775-2865" and "If you need a Police Officer to respond, contact Police Dispatch at 806-775-2865. If this is a life-threatening emergency, DIAL 911." The same page gives the Headquarters front desk as 806-775-2816. The City's 311 Citizen Requests page lists three ways to report an issue (the MyLBK app, calling 311, and the Self Service Portal), gives the 311 contact phone as 806-775-3000, and says "The 311 Call Center is open Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m."; its examples are potholes, stray animals, downed street signs and trash collection. The Submit a Report / Request page's categories are Animal Service, Codes, Community Development, Solid Waste, Storm Water, Traffic Engineering & Streets and Water; none of these City pages mentions noise. Article 14.04 names no enforcing department: § 14.04.002 places administration, inspections and noise-variance permits with the city secretary, and a violation is a misdemeanor (§ 14.04.010). Sources: https://www.mylubbock.us/385/Police-Department and https://www.mylubbock.us/182/311-Citizen-Requests and https://www.mylubbock.us/194/Submit-a-Report-Request.

Step by step, with what to log and what to expect after you file: how to file a noise complaint in Lubbock. 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) The test is reasonableness, not a reading: apart from the three night clock rules, every listed noise in § 14.04.003(b) turns on whether it unreasonably disturbs or interferes with "neighboring persons of ordinary sensibilities," and the list is of noises that "can constitute" a noise disturbance, so a complaint is judged on the facts rather than on a meter. (2) Wording differs by item: the construction item asks whether the work disturbs "the sleep, peace, comfort, and repose" of neighbors, while every other item in § 14.04.003(b) says "sleep, peace, comfort, or repose." (3) The construction item covers only equipment used in "commercial" construction, repair, alteration or demolition work; its clock is 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. with no separate weekend or holiday hours, and at other hours it is judged by the disturbance standard. Non-commercial work is not exempt from the other items: power equipment outdoors in residential zones and mechanical, electrical or electronic devices in a residential area have the same 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. clock (§ 14.04.003(b)(5), (8)). (4) Exclusions: § 14.04.003 "shall not be construed to include any activities or actions" at public or private educational facilities, undertaken by a governmental entity on or using its owned or leased property, or authorized by the city at the amphitheater in Mackenzie Park (§ 14.04.003(a)); and nothing in the article prohibits, limits or restricts the activities of any governmental entity holding events on its owned or leased property or any public utility (§ 14.04.009). (5) Running an electrical generator to power inflatable play equipment in residential zones and/or city parks in a disturbing manner is listed by name (§ 14.04.003(b)(6)). (6) Vehicles (§ 14.04.004): an exhaust system with a muffler in good working order and no cutout, bypass or similar device is required; tire squealing or screeching from rapid acceleration, excessive speed around corners or other such reason is unlawful, except sound from emergency braking to avoid imminent danger; and motorized vehicles operated off a public right-of-way are held to the unreasonable-disturbance standard. Using engine compression release brakes, dynamic braking devices or other braking methods or equipment that increase the noise emission levels of motor vehicles within the city is separately declared a nuisance (§ 20.05.131), except when required by failure of the service brake system or to avert imminent danger (§ 20.05.132). (7) Permits of variance (§§ 14.04.005 to 14.04.008): apply to the city secretary; the applicant must circulate a written petition to all owners, occupants or representatives of real property within 300 feet of the point where the noise will be generated, at least seven days ahead for a one-time event of less than 24 hours (application at least five days ahead) and 14 days ahead for events of more than 24 hours or repetitive days (application at least ten days ahead), and late fees may apply; if no objections are received the city secretary shall issue the permit, and if one or more objections are received the § 14.04.005(a) standards apply; the city may require a noise study at the applicant's expense; rescheduling requires notice at least 24 hours ahead (weekends not counted) and a recirculated petition (§ 14.04.006); fees are set by the city's current fiscal budget, with a $50 minimum if no fee is established by budget ordinance (§ 14.04.007); a disapproval may be appealed in writing within ten days to the permit and license appeal board (§ 14.04.008). (8) Penalty: a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500, each day a separate offense (§ 14.04.010). (9) The history notes show no change to the article since Ordinance 2015-O0050 (§ 14.04.003, 2015), and the eCode360 New Laws list (adopted legislation not yet codified) showed no ordinance on noise or Chapter 14 when read on 2026-10-05.

Document it before you report it

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