Noise ordinances › Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale noise ordinance: quiet hours, limits and complaints

Last updated: October 5, 2026

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Quiet hours in Scottsdale

Scottsdale's code sets no general quiet hours. The clocks are source-specific: (1) Nuisance parties: noise from a nuisance party or unruly gathering over 68 dB(A) or 70 dB(C) between 10:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. is rebuttably presumed excessive if it can be heard beyond the property line (18-122); outside that window the test is still whether the noise disturbs the peace or quiet of a residence or neighborhood from the perspective of a reasonable person. The City's Good Neighbor Guide for vacation renters puts it as "Any activity or gathering that disturbs the peace or quiet of a residence or neighborhood is prohibited, particularly between the hours of 10 p.m. to 9 a.m." (2) Vehicle and other mobile sound systems: from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. no mobile sound amplification system may be heard 50 or more feet from the vehicle or annoy or disturb any person in the vicinity (19-20(a)); the code sets no daytime rule for them. (3) Businesses that serve alcohol or provide live entertainment: Sec. 19-26 has no hours and applies around the clock. (4) Construction (IBC Sec. 117 as added by 31-12): from April 1 through October 31, no work may begin before 6:00 a.m. or continue after 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, or begin before 7:00 a.m. or continue after 7:00 p.m. on Saturday; from November 1 through March 31, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday; no Sunday work unless the applicant shows the building official justifiable cause in writing, though homeowners doing general maintenance may work Saturday hours on Sunday; the building official may grant modifications of up to 30 days for justifiable cause, such as pouring concrete during summer hours. Where construction noise may affect a residential occupancy within 750 feet (homes, apartments, hotels, nursing homes and similar residences), a Noise Mitigation Plan must make Sundays quiet days and, if the building official requires it, limit amplified sound such as radios and loudspeakers to 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (IBC 118.6). State law limits this: A.R.S. § 9-500.52 bars cities from prohibiting permitted general construction from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. each business day and 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday between May 1 and October 15, and the City's Inspection Services page says that from May 1 to Oct. 15 construction is permitted 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays, with concrete pours from 4 a.m. on weekdays and 6 a.m. on Saturdays, and that "Construction activity is not permitted on Sundays" (the code allows Sunday work for justifiable cause and homeowner maintenance). (5) Garbage and recycling: "In no event shall any refuse or recyclable material be collected or removed from locations in the city between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m." (24-14(b)); the City's Special Noise Violations FAQ nonetheless lists garbage trucks as "not covered under any ordinance." (6) Civic Center events under facility use permits: live-entertainment sound must cease by 9 p.m. on weekdays and 11:30 p.m. on weekends unless the permit specifies an exception, and no noise-generating teardown may occur past 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday or past midnight on Friday and Saturday (20-120).

Decibel limits

There is no general decibel limit for neighbor noise. Two articles of the Revised Code's nuisance and offense chapters carry decibel figures, both as rebuttable presumptions rather than hard caps, and in both a sound level meter "may be used, but is not required": (1) Nuisance parties and unruly gatherings (18-122): noise levels over 68 dB(A) or 70 dB(C) between 10:00 PM and 9:00 AM are presumed excessive if they can be heard beyond the property line of the property where the party is occurring; the reasonable person includes Scottsdale police officers and other authorized city employees. (2) Businesses that serve alcohol or provide live entertainment (19-26): noise over 68 db(A) is presumed unreasonable, "unreasonable noise" being noise a reasonable person of normal sensibilities would find excessive "and that can be heard at least one hundred (100) feet from the business" (19-25(A)(15)), and the violation is disturbing the peace or quiet of a residential district that contains dwellings. That residential district is defined by zoning (R1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5 and M-H, and comparable parts of PCD and PRD districts) and expressly excludes, "but the exclusion is not limited to," R-4R, S-R, the Downtown district and its sub-districts, PBD and PUD (19-25(A)(12)); non-amplified noise from patrons, and an event held under a city special events permit and run in accordance with it, are exempt (19-26(E)). If a meter is used it must be A- (or for parties, A- or C-) weighted, meet ANSI S1.4-1971 Type 1 requirements, use slow response (fast response may be used for impulse or rapidly varying noise), be adjusted to ± 0.3 decibel with an acoustical calibrator, and the ambient level must be noted (19-27, 18-123). Use-specific figures elsewhere include: the Western Theme Park (WP) zoning district caps park noise at residential properties at 45 dB(A) from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. and 55 dB(A) from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. (nonresidential 50 / 55), with short-term allowances and an ambient-level adjustment (Zoning Ordinance 5.2808), and a seasonal art festival's entertainment may not exceed ambient noise or fifty (50) DB, whichever is greater, at the property line (1.403). Everyday neighbor noise (music, voices, power tools, landscaping equipment) is judged under A.R.S. § 13-2904, which has no decibel figure.

What the ordinance actually says

Sec. 18-122: "Excessive noise means noise caused by a nuisance party or unruly gathering that disturbs the peace or quiet of a residence or neighborhood from the perspective of a reasonable person of normal sensibilities. For deciding that noise is excessive pursuant to this article, a reasonable person of normal sensibilities shall include Scottsdale police officers or other city employees authorized to enforce this article. A sound level meter may be used, but is not required, to assist in determining whether noise is excessive or not. It shall be a rebuttable presumption under this article that noise levels over (68) dB(A) or (70) dB(C) between 10:00 PM and 9:00 AM are considered excessive under this article, if they can be heard beyond the property line of the property where the nuisance party or unruly gathering is occurring."

Sec. 18-124(a)–(b): "It shall be unlawful for a responsible person to permit either a nuisance party or unlawful gathering. (b) A violation of this section is a civil offense and shall be punished with a minimum fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for a first offense, a minimum fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00) for a second offense, a minimum fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for a third offense or a minimum fine of two thousand dollars ($2,000) for a fourth or subsequent offenses within a year."

Sec. 19-26(A): "It shall be unlawful for a business that serves alcohol or provides live entertainment to create unreasonable noise that through its operations disturbs the peace or quiet of a residential district that contains dwellings."

Sec. 19-26(D): "It shall be a rebuttable presumption under this article that noise levels over sixty-eight (68) db(A) are considered unreasonable."

Sec. 19-25(A)(15): "Unreasonable noise means noise that a reasonable person of normal sensibilities would find excessive and that can be heard at least one hundred (100) feet from the business."

Sec. 19-20(a): "Unless the system is being operated to request assistance of an emergency nature or to warn of a hazardous situation, and except as authorized by law, no person shall operate or permit the operation of any mobile sound amplification system between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. which: (1) Can be heard fifty (50) or more feet from the vehicle; or (2) Annoys or disturbs the quiet, comfort or repose of any person in the vicinity."

Sec. 4-17(c): "No person shall knowingly keep or harbor any animal or fowl which by frequent or habitual howling, yelping, barking, crowing or the making of other noises shall annoy or disturb a neighborhood or any two (2) or more persons, one (1) of which may be a police officer or an animal control officer."

Sec. 31-12 (IBC 117.1.1, Summer hours, April 1 through October 31): "no work shall begin before 6:00am or continue after 7:00pm Monday through Friday; or before 7:00am or continue after 7:00pm on Saturday."

Quoted verbatim from the official codified text (Scottsdale Revised Code, Chapter 19 "Offenses, Miscellaneous": Article I, Sec. 19-20 "Sound amplification systems; limitations on use" (Ord. No. 2754, § 1, 12-18-95), and Article II "Special Noise Violations," Secs. 19-24 through 19-31 (Ord. No. 3912, § 2, 9-28-10; 19-25 definitions, 19-26 unreasonable noise created by businesses that serve alcohol or provide live entertainment, 19-27 measurement criteria, 19-28 penalties, 19-29 civil complaints, 19-30 habitual offenders, 19-31 remedies non-exclusive); Chapter 18 "Public Nuisance and Property Maintenance," Article VIII "Nuisance Parties and Unlawful Gatherings," Secs. 18-121 through 18-133 (Ord. No. 4417, 9-24-19; Ord. No. 4528, 12-8-21; Ord. No. 4626, 5-6-24); Sec. 4-17(c) (animal noise); Sec. 24-14(b) (solid waste collection hours); Sec. 20-120 (Civic Center facility use permits); Chapter 31, Secs. 31-12 and 31-13, which add Sections 117 "Construction Activity" and 118 "Construction Noise" to the International Building Code (Ord. No. 4550, 9-20-22, eff. 1-1-23); and Sec. 1-8 (general penalty). Text read on Municode, the City's code host (Supp. No. 80, codified through Ordinance No. 4681, adopted July 1, 2025), on 2026-10-05. The City's Special Noise Violations Ordinance page (scottsdaleaz.gov, last updated May 21, 2026) says staff are drafting proposed changes; the draft was on the City Council's Feb. 10, 2026 work study agenda and was continued to a future meeting.). 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 Scottsdale

Per the City's Special Noise Violations FAQ (scottsdaleaz.gov): "If you want a police response, call the non-emergency number at 480-312-5000. Complaints may also be submitted online at ScottsdaleAZ.gov/EZ, search Noise, but this will not automatically generate a call for service with the police department, but will be followed up on during office hours." The FAQ says calls are prioritized and assigned to the beat officer, who may warn, cite or take no action, and that recurring complaint areas bring sound-level meters, meetings with the locations generating the noise and code enforcement involvement where zoning or use permit stipulations apply. The Police Department page lists 480-312-5000 and 480-312-5419 (TTY) (8401 E. Indian School Road), and the City's Good Neighbor Guide lists "Police & Fire Emergency - 911" and "Non-emergency Police – 480-312-5000." Under the code, the City Manager or designee, a Scottsdale police officer or the City Attorney may issue civil complaints for business noise (19-29) and nuisance parties (18-128). Construction noise from a permitted site is handled through the building official and the project's Noise Mitigation Plan, which must list jobsite contacts "who can address complaints immediately" (IBC 118.4–118.5). Sources: https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/docs/default-source/scottsdaleaz/codes---ordinances/special-noise/frequently-asked-questions.pdf, https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/police and https://ww2.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/ScottsdaleAZ/Codes+and+Ordinances/good+neighbor+guide+-+visitor.pdf.

Step by step, with what to log and what to expect after you file: how to file a noise complaint in Scottsdale. 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) No general noise ordinance: a full-text search of the Scottsdale Revised Code on Municode finds no general disturbing-the-peace or unreasonable-noise section; the City's own FAQ says ambient noise at any time of day (people being loud, employees playing music, Uber pickups, general disturbance of the peace), landscaping equipment and power tools fall under the state disorderly conduct statute. A.R.S. § 13-2904(A)(2) reaches a person who, "with intent to disturb the peace or quiet of a neighborhood, family or person, or with knowledge of doing so," "Makes unreasonable noise," a class 1 misdemeanor (13-2904(B)), punishable by up to six months in jail (A.R.S. § 13-707) and a fine of up to $2,500 (A.R.S. § 13-802). (2) Party penalties are civil and escalate within a year: a responsible person who permits a nuisance party or unlawful gathering faces minimum fines of $250, $500 and $1,000 for a first, second and third offense and $2,000 for a fourth or later offense within a year (18-124); an owner who intentionally, knowingly or recklessly permits one faces minimums of $750, $1,500, $2,000 and $2,500 (the last for a fourth or later offense within a year) (18-125); a promoter who advertises or organizes one, or advertises a special event at a residence without a special event permit, faces minimums of $1,000, $1,500 and $2,500 within two years, and online listings are prima facie evidence of acting as a promoter (18-131). A judge or hearing officer may reduce fines if the owner installs noise mitigation software or security cameras, takes a best-practices course, or posts conduct rules (18-126). Four or more prior civil findings within 24 months make the next violation a class one misdemeanor, with a $10,000 to $20,000 fine for a business entity and an added $2,500 fine for an individual (18-127). (3) An officer who finds a nuisance party or unlawful gathering and a threat to public peace, health, safety or welfare may order all non-residents to leave and post a notice barring their return for eight hours; failing to leave immediately is a class 3 misdemeanor, but a person may not be arrested or cited for it without first being warned; intentionally, knowingly or recklessly re-entering after the notice is posted is also a class 3 misdemeanor; and it is a rebuttable presumption that persons in excess of six adults and their dependent children do not reside at the premises (18-132). The responsible-person definition reaches any attendee, the owner, tenant, guests, hosts and promoters, and a juvenile's parents or guardians (18-122). (4) Businesses that serve alcohol or provide live entertainment: Sec. 19-26 protects only residential zoning districts that contain dwellings; Old Town's Downtown district and the R-4R, S-R, PBD and PUD districts are among those excluded (19-25(A)(12)), and the City's FAQ says mixed-use areas in Old Town were exempted in 2010 and remain covered by state disorderly conduct law. Penalties are civil: $500 for a first violation, $1,500 for a second within one year, $2,500 for a third or later within one year, and $2,500 for violating the noise conditions of a special events permit (19-28); a violation after four or more prior civil findings within 24 months makes the business a habitual offender guilty of a class one misdemeanor, with a minimum fine of $10,000 and a maximum of $20,000, plus an added $2,500 fine where the owner is an individual (19-30). The FAQ reports that police had not measured over 68 dBA in the residential districts around Old Town when responding to complaints, so no business had been cited under this article, and that police had issued two citations to businesses under the state disorderly conduct statute for unreasonable noise. (5) A rewrite is pending: the City formed a Special Noise Ordinance Committee in 2023, City Council directed staff in January 2024 to draft an updated ordinance while enforcing the existing one, and the draft was on the Feb. 10, 2026 work study agenda and continued; the text above is the codified version. (6) Construction: Scottsdale regulates construction hours and noise through its building code amendments rather than a noise ordinance (31-12, 31-13): construction noise (back-up alarms, generators, concrete pumps and amplified sound) is prohibited at residential occupancies within 750 feet except as allowed by an approved Noise Mitigation Plan; the owner may be required to hold neighborhood meetings, and the plan must make Sundays quiet days and, as the building official requires, use smart alarms or flagmen instead of back-up beepers (IBC 118.3–118.6). Two official sources do not match the codified hours: IBC 117.1 as adopted gives summer hours of April 1 through October 31 starting at 6:00 a.m., while the City's Inspection Services page states the state-law hours (5 a.m. weekdays) for May 1 to Oct. 15 and says winter/spring hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays apply from Oct. 16 to April 30, a different split from the code's November 1 to March 31 winter season. (7) Vehicle stereos and other mobile sound systems are limited only at night (10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.), with a 50-foot audibility test or annoyance to any person nearby; authorized emergency vehicles, utility and government vehicles, vehicles of entities working under the City's direction or within a City contract or agreement, and vehicles used for advertising in a parade or in a political or other special event permitted by the City are exempt, and a violation is a misdemeanor under Sec. 1-8 (19-20); engine brakes are banned where signs are posted, as a civil traffic violation with a minimum $200 sanction (17-63). (8) Animals: knowingly keeping or harboring an animal or fowl whose frequent or habitual noise annoys a neighborhood or any two or more persons, one of whom may be a police officer or animal control officer, violates 4-17(c); with no specific penalty stated, Sec. 1-8 makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor punished under state law. (9) Licensed neighborhood street vendors may not yell, shout or hawk at any time or use loudspeakers, drums or sirens, except that motorized vehicles may play "pleasing melodies" in residential neighborhoods while in motion (16-637), and they may sell only from 10:00 a.m. until sunset (16-627); mobile food vendors may not use amplified sound in a vending area on any right-of-way or public place (16-655(F)).

Document it before you report it

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