Noise ordinances › Salem, OR

Salem noise ordinance: quiet hours, limits and complaints

Last updated: November 9, 2026

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Quiet hours in Salem

Salem's main rules have no clock. It is unlawful at any hour to intentionally, knowingly or recklessly create, permit, continue or assist a noise disturbance (93.010), and sound equipment that is plainly audible within another dwelling unit, church, temple, synagogue, business, day care center or school, or on public property or a public right-of-way 150 feet or more from the device, is a noise disturbance at any hour (93.020(a)). The night rules all run from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. of the following day. In those hours it is unlawful to operate domestic power equipment, which means power tools or equipment such as power hand tools, lawn mowers, power blowers, garden equipment and snow removal equipment used for home or building repair, maintenance, landscaping, alteration or home manual arts projects (93.020(c), 93.005); to construct, demolish, alter, excavate, rehabilitate or repair any building, street, sidewalk, driveway, sewer or utility line (93.020(d)); or to operate a pile driver, steam shovel, pneumatic hammer, derrick, hoist or similar equipment (93.020(j)). In the same hours an engine may not idle for more than ten consecutive minutes, and a motor vehicle may not be repaired or tested, in a manner that is plainly audible within any dwelling unit (93.020(f), (g)). The decibel table uses the same clock: day means the hours between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and night the hours between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of the following day, and each night figure in Table 51-1 is 5 dBA below the day figure (51.005, 51.015). Neither chapter sets different hours for weekends or holidays. Dogs have no clock: a bark, cry or other sound on a frequent, repetitive or continuous basis for ten minutes or longer is a noise disturbance at any hour (93.020(b)).

Decibel limits

Yes, by land use, in a chapter other than the noise chapter. Chapter 93 states no decibel figure of its own, but 93.020(k) makes it unlawful to operate any sound source not otherwise enumerated in 93.020 in a manner that exceeds the maximum permissible sound levels set forth in Table 51-1 of SRC chapter 51 (Event Sound Permits). Chapter 51 states the same levels as a general rule: it is unlawful for any person who owns, controls or operates any sound source to cause or permit sound in excess of them to be received on property other than the property where the source is located without first obtaining an event sound permit (51.015(a)). Table 51-1, maximum permissible sound levels in dBA, by the use of the source and the use of the receiving property, day and night. Commercial source: 55 and 50 on a noise sensitive receiver, 70 and 65 on a commercial receiver, 70 and 65 on an industrial receiver. Industrial source: 55 and 50 on a noise sensitive receiver, 70 and 65 on a commercial receiver, no maximum on an industrial receiver. Noise sensitive source: 60 and 55 on a commercial receiver, 65 and 60 on an industrial receiver, and "Not applicable" on a noise sensitive receiver. Day means the hours between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. of the same day and night the hours between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of the following day (51.005). Noise sensitive means use as a church, temple, synagogue, day care center, hospital, rest home, retirement home, group care home, school, dwelling unit or other similar use. Commercial means use as an office, service establishment, hotel, motel, retail store, park, amusement or recreation facility or other similar use, and any use of real property within the Downtown Parking District. Industrial means use as a warehouse, factory, mine, wholesale trade establishment or other similar use (51.005). No sound received on another property may exceed the table levels by ten dBA for a cumulative total of greater than one minute in any ten-minute period (51.015(b)). Where it is measured (51.015(c)): at whichever of two points is farther from the sound source, 25 feet from the point on any building on the receiver property nearest the source, or the point on the receiver property line nearest the source. Sound level in dBA means the weighted sound pressure level measured with an A-weighted sound level meter set at a fast meter response (51.005). The table gives no figure for sound from one noise sensitive property received on another, which is the usual case between neighbors' homes. That noise is judged without a meter: a noise disturbance is any sound that injures or endangers the health or safety of a human, annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities, or injures or endangers personal or real property, and plainly audible means the listener can clearly hear the sound with unaided hearing faculties (93.005). Sound equipment is judged by where it can be heard, not how loud it is: within another dwelling unit, church, temple, synagogue, business, day care center or school, or on public property or a public right-of-way 150 feet or more from the device (93.020(a)). The sources that 93.020 lists (sound equipment, dogs, domestic power equipment, construction, dynamic braking devices, idling engines, vehicle repair, steam whistles, sirens and pile drivers and similar equipment) have their own rules there, and 93.020(k) reaches only sources not on that list.

What the ordinance actually says

§ 93.005: "Noise disturbance means any sound that: (a) Injures or endangers the health or safety of a human; (b) Annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities; or (c) Injures or endangers personal or real property."

§ 93.005: "Plainly audible means the listener can clearly hear the sound produced by a sound source with unaided hearing faculties. Sounds which may be plainly audible include, but are not limited to, musical rhythms, engine noises, spoken words or phrases even though not clearly discernable, and other vocal sounds."

§ 93.010: "It shall be unlawful for any person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly to create, to permit, to continue, or to assist in the creation or continuance of any noise disturbance."

§ 93.020(a): "It shall be unlawful to operate or use, or to permit the operation or use of, any device that produces or amplifies sound, including, but not limited to, musical instruments, radios, televisions, stereos, compact disc players, tape recorders, amplifiers and loudspeakers, in such a manner that the sound produced thereby is plainly audible: (1) Within any dwelling unit, church, temple, synagogue, business, day care center or school, other than the source of the sound; or (2) On public property or a public right-of-way 150 feet or more from such device, except as specifically authorized in writing by the city, county, state or federal government that owns or controls such property."

§ 93.020(b): "It shall be unlawful to keep, or to permit the keeping of, any dog or dogs that create any bark, cry, or other sound on a frequent, repetitive or continuous basis for ten minutes or longer."

§ 93.020(c): "It shall be unlawful to operate, or to permit the operation of, any domestic power equipment between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of the following day."

§ 93.020(d): "It shall be unlawful to construct, demolish, alter, excavate, rehabilitate or repair any building, street, sidewalk, driveway, sewer, or utility line between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of the following day."

§ 93.020(f): "It shall be unlawful to operate any idling engine for more than ten consecutive minutes in a manner that is plainly audible within any dwelling unit between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of the following day."

§ 93.020(k): "It shall be unlawful to operate, to permit, or continue the operation of, any sound source not otherwise enumerated in this section in a manner that exceeds the maximum permissible sound levels set forth in Table 51-1 of SRC chapter 51."

§ 51.015(a): "Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person who owns, controls or operates any sound source to cause or permit sound in excess of the maximum permissible sound levels set forth in Table 51-1 to be received on property other than property where the source is located without first obtaining an event sound permit issued pursuant to this chapter."

§ 51.015(b): "No sound received on a property other than the property where the source is located shall exceed the established maximum permissible sound levels in Table 51-1 by ten dBA for a cumulative total of greater than one minute in any ten-minute period."

§ 51.015(c): "Measurement of sound levels shall be made at one of the following points, whichever is farther from the sound source: (1) 25 feet from that point on any building on the receiver property nearest the sound source; or (2) That point on the receiver property line nearest the sound source."

§ 93.990: "(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, violation of SRC 93.010 or 93.020 is an infraction. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a person adjudged responsible for violation of this chapter may be ordered by the Court to correct the violation. (b) A second or subsequent violation of SRC 93.010 or 93.020 within six months of having been convicted of a violation of SRC 93.010 or 93.020 is a misdemeanor."

§ 1.070(b): "Maximum penalties for offenses defined in this Code shall be as follows: (1) Misdemeanor: Six months imprisonment or a fine of $500.00, or both such fine and imprisonment. (2) Infraction: A forfeiture of $250.00, or such lesser sum as may be provided in the ordinance defining the offense."

§ 100.310: "It shall be unlawful for the driver of any motor vehicle on any public street or other property open to public travel to cause any squealing or screeching noise from the tires thereof as a result of unnecessary rapid acceleration, whether or not the production of such noise was an intended result of such an acceleration."

Quoted verbatim from the official codified text (Salem Revised Code Chapter 93 (Noise), in Title VIII (Offenses): Sec. 93.001 Declaration of purpose (Prior Code, § 93.001; Ord. No. 166-78; Ord. No. 37-10), 93.005 Definitions (Prior Code, § 93.005; Ord. No. 179-82; Ord. No. 53-97; Ord. No. 91-99; Ord. No. 23-2002; Ord. No. 57-05; Ord. No. 31-06; Ord. No. 37-10), 93.010 Noise disturbance prohibited (Prior Code, § 93.010; Ord. No. 3408; Ord. No. 80-74; Ord. No. 179-82; Ord. No. 55-84; Ord. No. 20-2000; Ord. No. 23-2002; Ord. No. 37-10), 93.020 Specific noise disturbances (Prior Code, § 93.020; Ord. No. 37-10), 93.030 Exemptions (Prior Code, § 93.030; Ord. No. 179-82; Ord. No. 12-84; Ord. No. 55-84; Ord. No. 10-85; Ord. No. 46-94; Ord. No. 23-2002; Ord. No. 31-05; Ord. No. 37-10), 93.040 to 93.980 Reserved, 93.990 Violations (Prior Code, § 93.990; Ord. No. 193-79; Ord. No. 179-82; Ord. No. 47-97; Ord. No. 20-2000; Ord. No. 23-2002; Ord. No. 57-05; Ord. No. 37-10). Title IV (Health and Sanitation), Chapter 51 (Event Sound Permits), which holds the decibel table: Sec. 51.001 Declaration of purpose, 51.005 Definitions, 51.010 Administration; rulemaking, 51.015 Maximum permissible sound levels (Table 51-1), 51.020 Event sound permits; types, 51.030 Application for a permit, 51.040 Notice, 51.050 Permit criteria and conditions, 51.060 Permit decision, 51.070 Appeal and 51.100 Violations (each: Prior Code, same section number; Ord. No. 37-10). Title I (Government), Chapter 1 (General Provisions): Sec. 1.070 General penalty; continuing violations (Prior Code, § 1.070; Ord. No. 104-76; Ord. No. 193-79; Ord. No. 17-2000). Also Title IX (Vehicles and Traffic), Chapter 100 (Generally): Sec. 100.310 Prohibited tire noise (Prior Code, § 100.310; Ord. No. 82-72; Ord. No. 179-82) and 100.990 Violations (Prior Code, § 100.990; Ord. No. 193-79). Text read on Municode (library.municode.com/or/salem), Supplement 26, online content updated on September 23, 2026, codified through Ordinance No. 10-26, adopted August 10, 2026. Its list of adopted ordinances not yet codified (Ordinance Nos. 7-26, 8-26, 09-26 and 10-26) names no ordinance that amends Chapter 93 or Chapter 51.). 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 Salem

Report noise to the Salem Police Department, online through the Salem Police Online Reporting system or on the non-emergency line, 503-588-6123. The City's Service Alternatives page says barking dogs and loud noise "may not receive an immediate in-person officer response." For barking dogs, and for loud noise from parties or amplified sound, it says to report online with an exact address so that a noise violation notice can be sent to the residence, and that a police officer will follow up after five or more notices within a 90-day period. Gatherings with loud noise or amplified sound can also be reported on 503-588-6123; the page says such calls are handled by the dispatch center's automated virtual assistant, and that the reported circumstances, any criminal activity and the staff available decide whether an officer comes in person. The same page lists Salem Police Dispatch at 503-588-6123, option 1, and says to call or text 9-1-1 for any immediate dangers. Marion County Dog Services says barking dog complaints inside the city limits of Salem should be filed with Salem's law enforcement agency at 503-588-6123, not with County Dog Control. The City's Animals & Pets page lists Code Compliance, 555 Liberty St. SE, Room 305, 503-588-6421, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., as its contact; no page read today says which noise complaints that office takes. Penalty: a violation of 93.010 or 93.020 is an infraction, and the court may also order the person to correct the violation (93.990(a)); the maximum penalty for an infraction is a forfeiture of $250 (1.070(b)(2)). A second or subsequent violation within six months of having been convicted of one is a misdemeanor (93.990(b)), with a maximum of six months imprisonment or a fine of $500, or both (1.070(b)(1)). Every day a violation continues is a separate offense (1.070(d)). Exceeding the Table 51-1 levels without an event sound permit is also an infraction under Chapter 51, with each day a separate violation (51.100(a), (c)). Sources: https://www.cityofsalem.net/community/safety/police/crime-and-other-police-reports/service-alternatives-to-some-non-emergency-calls, https://www.cityofsalem.net/community/safety/police/crime-and-other-police-reports/file-a-police-report-online, https://www.cityofsalem.net/government/city-directory, https://www.cityofsalem.net/community/household/animals-pets, https://www.co.marion.or.us/CS/DogServices/Enforcement and, for Chapter 51 and the general penalty, https://library.municode.com/or/salem/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TITIVHESA_CH51EVSOPE and https://library.municode.com/or/salem/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TITIGO_CH1GEPR.

Step by step, with what to log and what to expect after you file: how to file a noise complaint in Salem. 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) A list of automatic violations. The acts in 93.020 are declared noise disturbances per se, meaning the act itself is the violation, and the list does not limit what else can be a noise disturbance under 93.010 (93.020). (2) The sound equipment rule runs day and night and has no decibel test: it is enough that the sound is plainly audible inside another dwelling unit, church, temple, synagogue, business, day care center or school, or 150 feet or more away on public property or a public right-of-way, unless the government that owns or controls the property authorized it in writing (93.020(a)). Plainly audible covers musical rhythms, engine noises and spoken words or phrases even though not clearly discernable (93.005). (3) Ten minutes is the recurring number: a dog that barks on a frequent, repetitive or continuous basis for ten minutes or longer (93.020(b)), an engine idling for more than ten consecutive minutes at night (93.020(f)), and a burglar or fire alarm, which is exempt only while it operates repetitively or continuously for not more than ten minutes (93.030(b)). (4) The dog rule names dogs only; other animals fall under the general noise disturbance rule. Barking inside the city goes to Salem Police, not to County Dog Control, according to Marion County Dog Services. (5) Construction may run until 10:00 p.m. and start at 7:00 a.m. on any day; the chapter has no weekend or holiday rule (93.020(d)). Public improvement work by the City, Marion County, Polk County, the State or their employees, agents, contractors or subcontractors is exempt (93.030(e)), as is work by a public utility or a current franchisee of the City on its facilities (93.030(j)). (6) Three bans have no hours at all: using a dynamic braking device (an engine brake on trucks and buses) except to avoid imminent danger to persons or property (93.020(e)); blowing a steam whistle attached to a stationary boiler except to give notice of the time to begin or stop work (93.020(h)); and sounding a stationary siren or other aural warning device except to warn of fire or imminent danger (93.020(i)). (7) State of mind: the offense is to intentionally, knowingly or recklessly create, permit, continue or assist in a noise disturbance, so a person who permits or helps is covered too (93.010). (8) Other exemptions (93.030): work to restore property to a safe condition after a natural or other disaster, or to protect persons or property from imminent danger; emergency vehicles responding to or from an emergency or pursuing a violator; farming for profit; a variance granted by the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission; a valid permit issued under SRC 30.500 (a section not read for this summary) or an event sound permit under SRC chapter 51; sound amplifying equipment at athletic events sponsored by Salem-Keizer School District 24J, by an educational institution registered with the Oregon Department of Education or accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, or by the City; and motor vehicle exhaust systems that comply with ORS 815.250, unless the sound breaks the night idling or night repair rules. (9) The penalty steps up fast: a first violation is an infraction, with a forfeiture of up to $250, and a second or subsequent violation within six months of a conviction is a misdemeanor, with up to six months imprisonment or a fine of $500, or both; the court may also order the violation corrected (93.990, 1.070(b)). Chapter 93 names no amount; the figures come from the code's general penalty section, which also lets the municipal judge set a schedule of forfeitures for particular infractions (1.070(f)). That schedule was not read. (10) Do not expect an officer at the door. The City's police pages say barking and loud noise calls may not get an immediate in-person response: a noise violation notice is sent to the address reported, and an officer follows up after five or more notices within a 90-day period. (11) Tire squeal is a separate traffic offense: causing squealing or screeching from the tires by unnecessary rapid acceleration on a public street or other property open to public travel, with an exception for emergency action to avoid imminent danger (100.310); it is an infraction (100.990(b)). (12) City limits matter. Marion County's Code Enforcement brochure lists noise complaints inside any city limits among the things the County has no authority to enforce. (13) The chapter's own footnote points to state law: ORS 467.100, which lets a city or county adopt and enforce noise ordinances or noise standards otherwise permitted by law. (14) The decibel table is not in the noise chapter. It sits in Chapter 51, Event Sound Permits, in the Health and Sanitation title, but its general rule covers any sound source, not only events (51.015(a)), and the noise chapter borrows it for every source it does not list (93.020(k)). (15) Home to home, the table has no number: for a noise sensitive source received on a noise sensitive property it reads "Not applicable". A dwelling unit is a noise sensitive use (51.005), so a neighbor's noise is a matter for the reasonable-person and plainly audible rules, while a retail store, hotel, park or factory heard at a home is held to 55 dBA by day and 50 dBA at night. (16) Parks count as commercial property in Chapter 51 (51.005). The City's sound permit page gives one figure: "In general, sound levels at an event cannot exceed 50 dBa at adjacent property lines without getting a sound permit from the City." In the code, 50 dBA is the night level on a noise sensitive receiver; the day level there is 55 dBA and the levels on commercial receivers are 70 and 65 dBA. The code controls. (17) Event sound permits come in four classes, by whether the event exceeds 24 hours and whether it is in the Downtown Parking District (51.020). Apply not less than ten calendar days ahead for Class A and 45 for Classes B, C and D (51.030); Class B, C and D applicants must give written notice to recognized neighborhood associations and to any person residing, or any owner of a business, within 400 feet of the planned sound source (51.040). The Health Officer, meaning the City Manager or a designee, decides within seven calendar days for Class A and 30 for the others, and sets conditions that include maximum decibel levels (51.005, 51.050, 51.060). A permittee who refuses or fails to cause immediate corrective action for a violation of the permit may be charged a civil penalty of $250 (51.100(f)). The permit page adds: "Getting a permit does not mean noise complaints will not be filed and investigated."

Document it before you report it

Some of Salem's limits are measured numbers, so a reading can help, and a dated log counts either way. 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 Salem noise map. For time-stamped measurement history you can show a landlord or code officer, the app keeps a log.