Noise ordinances › Springfield, MO

Springfield noise ordinance: quiet hours, limits and complaints

Last updated: November 9, 2026

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Quiet hours in Springfield

There is no single citywide quiet period. Unreasonably loud and disturbing noise is prohibited at any hour (Sec. 78-112(a)), and so is playing a sound-producing device (a radio, television, musical instrument or similar device) in a way that annoys or disturbs people nearby (Sec. 78-113(a)(2)a). The code then sets night hours by type of noise. Sound devices in a residential district: from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. no sound-producing device may be played, inside or outside a building or from a motor vehicle, so that it can be heard beyond the property line (Sec. 78-113(a)(2)c). Vehicles on a public street: from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. no sound-producing device may be played in a motor vehicle on a public street or right-of-way so that it can be heard on property other than the street (Sec. 78-113(a)(2)d.1), and at any hour a sound amplification system in a vehicle may not be plainly audible 50 or more feet from the vehicle (Sec. 78-113(a)(2)d.2). Amplified sound generally: after 11 p.m. and before 7 a.m. a sound amplification system may not be plainly audible 50 or more feet from its speakers (Sec. 78-115(1)c). At any hour, a system that is plainly audible may not be run at a volume that unreasonably disturbs or alarms people within residential dwellings, businesses or commercial developments, or so as to unreasonably disturb or interfere with an activity held under a special event or other City permit (Sec. 78-115(1)a, b). Yelling, shouting, chanting, hooting, whistling or singing: from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. it may not be unreasonably loud and unnecessary on private property or on a public street or right-of-way, with a carve-out where the noise is made on private property the person owns or controls, or on a public street or right-of-way, and does not leave it, or is made on property owned or used by an agency at an event the agency sponsors or authorizes; on public streets it is also banned at any time when it annoys or disturbs people nearby (Sec. 78-113(a)(6)). Musical instruments: no musical instrument or device producing musical sound may be played from 1:30 a.m. to 6 a.m., except in churches as part of regular church entertainment, at social entertainment in private homes, in public buildings where an admission fee is charged, or in an enclosed structure more than 200 feet from any dwelling, hotel, tourist court, hospital, rest home or sanitarium (Sec. 78-113(a)(2)b). Construction in residential districts: building, demolition, alteration, repair and street excavation are allowed only between 7 a.m. and one-half hour before sunset, unless the building inspector gives a permit (Sec. 78-113(a)(5)). Outdoor music under a Center City permit: two-day special event permits run 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. (to 12:30 a.m. on December 31); annual amplified entertainment permits run 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday, 9 a.m. to midnight on Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays (Sec. 2-512(a)(1)).

Decibel limits — or rather, the lack of them

None. Division 2 (Secs. 78-111 to 78-116) contains no decibel figure, and neither do the related sections read (Secs. 2-511, 2-512, 106-15). The tests are whether noise is unreasonably loud and disturbing (Sec. 78-112(a)), whether a sound device annoys or disturbs people nearby (Sec. 78-113(a)(2)a), whether a sound device can be heard beyond the property line in a residential district at night (Sec. 78-113(a)(2)c), and whether amplified sound is plainly audible, which Sec. 78-111 defines as sound from a sound amplification system that clearly can be heard at a distance of 50 feet or more. That is judged by ear: the definition says measurement is by the auditory senses, based upon direct line of sight, that words or phrases need not be discernible, and that bass reverberations are included. The only other distance in the division is the 200 feet in the night music rule (Sec. 78-113(a)(2)b). One gap: Secs. 2-512(a)(3) and 18-24(b)(11) point to noise standards in the city zoning ordinance (section 6-1500 and following), which were not in the text read for this page, so this page does not say whether those zoning standards carry numbers.

What the ordinance actually says

Sec. 78-112(a): "The creating of any unreasonably loud and disturbing noise within the city is hereby prohibited. Noise of such character, intensity or duration as to threaten actual or imminent interference with peace or good order or to be detrimental to the life or health of any individual or disturbance of the public peace and welfare is prohibited."

Sec. 78-111: "Plainly audible means any sound produced by a sound amplification system from either within a vehicle or such sound amplification system not located within a vehicle, which clearly can be heard at a distance of 50 feet or more. Measurement standards shall be by the auditory senses, based upon direct line of sight. Words or phrases need not be discernible, and bass reverberations are included."

Sec. 78-113(a)(2)c: "No person shall play a sound-producing device in a residential district between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., whether inside or outside of a building, or from a motor vehicle, in a manner or with such volume so as to emit noise which can be heard beyond the property line of the property on which the sound-producing device is located"

Sec. 78-113(a)(2)b: "No person shall play or cause to be played any musical instrument or device producing musical sound between the hours of 1:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m."

Sec. 78-113(a)(2)d.2: "No person operating or occupying a motor vehicle on a street, highway, alley, parking lot, or driveway shall operate or permit the operation of any sound amplification system from within the vehicle so that the sound is plainly audible at a distance of 50 or more feet from the vehicle."

Sec. 78-115(1)c: "Operate the sound amplification system after 11:00 p.m. and before 7:00 a.m. where the sound generated is plainly audible at a distance of 50 or more feet from the speakers of the system."

Sec. 78-113(a)(1): "The keeping of any animal, bird or fowl which, by causing frequent or long continued noise, shall disturb the comfort or repose of any person in the vicinity."

Sec. 78-113(a)(5): "The erection (including excavating), demolition, alteration or repair of any building and the excavation of streets and highways in any residential district or section, other than between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and one-half hour before sunset, except in case of urgent necessity in the interest of public health and safety, and then only with a permit from the building inspector, which permit may be granted for a period not to exceed 30 days while the emergency continues."

Sec. 78-112(b): "It shall be unlawful to permit persons to assemble in or about a person's home, or property owned by or under the person's control, or a place of business and to permit such persons to make loud noises as prohibited by this ordinance or any other ordinance or state statute to the disturbance of a person(s) or neighborhood."

Sec. 78-116(c): "The penalty for a violation of sections 78-112 or 78-113 enforced through this section shall be a fine of $100.00 and shall be a civil, non-point penalty, and shall not be punishable under section 1-7."

Sec. 1-7(a): "the violation of any such provision of this Code or other ordinances of the city shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000.00 or by imprisonment in jail for a period not exceeding 180 days, or both such fine and imprisonment."

Sec. 106-15(4): "Muffler cutouts shall not be used, and no vehicle shall be driven in such manner or condition that excessive and unnecessary noises shall be made by its machinery, motor, signaling device or other parts or by any improperly loaded cargo."

Quoted verbatim from the official codified text (Springfield City Code Chapter 78 Article IV Division 2 (Noise), Secs. 78-111 to 78-116. Code of the City of Springfield, Missouri on Municode, "Codified through G.O. No. 6973, enacted January 12, 2026. (Supp. No. 23, Update 2)", online content updated on August 13, 2026 (version Aug 13, 2026, current): Chapter 78 (Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions), Article IV (Offenses Against Public Peace), Division 2, Noise: Sec. 78-111 Definitions (Code 1981, § 26-48; G.O. No. 6330, § 1, 1-9-2017; G.O. No. 6893, § 1, 11-18-2024); Sec. 78-112 Prohibited noise generally (Code 1981, § 26-49; G.O. No. 5024, § 1, 10-23-2000); Sec. 78-113 Prohibited noises enumerated (Code 1981, § 26-50; G.O. No. 6330, § 2, 1-9-2017); Sec. 78-113.5 Permission for certain activities of governmental bodies (G.O. No. 5485, § 1, 8-22-2005); Sec. 78-114 Peace disturbance (G.O. No. 5062, § 3, 3-19-2001); Sec. 78-115 Additional prohibited noises (G.O. No. 6330, § 3, 1-9-2017); Sec. 78-116 Vehicle owner responsibilities (G.O. No. 6893, § 2, 11-18-2024). Related: Chapter 2, Article VII (Special Events), Secs. 2-511 and 2-512 (G.O. No. 6195, § 1, 5-11-2015); Chapter 106 (Traffic and Vehicles), Sec. 106-15(4) (Code 1981, § 22-10); Chapter 18 (Animals), Sec. 18-24 (G.O. No. 5900, § 3, 10-4-2010). Chapter 1 (General Provisions), Sec. 1-7, General penalty; continuing violations (Code 1981, § 1-7; G.O. No. 5280, § 2, 7-14-2003). Municode's list of adopted ordinances not yet codified showed 0 ordinances. The zoning ordinance's noise standards (section 6-1500) were not in the text read. 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 Springfield

Call the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810, or 911 for an emergency. The City's Neighborhood Toolbox brochure says the first step is to report a noise violation to the police at 864-1810. Once the police take a report, the brochure says, it is sent to the Prosecutor's Office, which decides whether a violation occurred and could be successfully prosecuted; if it is prosecuted, you may be required to testify at a trial (the brochure carries no date). The City Prosecutor's formal complaint process, for an offense committed against you within the city, works the same way: report it to the Police (online complaint form or 417-864-1810), give them your evidence such as recordings and witness names, get the police report number, then call the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney at 417-864-1892 with the report number, your name and your phone number. That page says a decision is usually made within 1 week of the report reaching the Prosecutor's Office and comes by mail, and that if you do not appear to testify the judge may dismiss the case. The Citizen Resource Center (417-864-1010, the online service request form, the GoSpringfieldMO app or city@springfieldmo.gov) lists Noise Disturbances among the issues it takes and passes requests to the right department. Loud vehicles: the Police Department's Hear Something, Say Something page takes a Vehicle Noise Violation Complaint form, which must include the date, time and location, a vehicle description, the complete license plate number, and a video with audio and a clear visual of the plate; an officer reviews it and the vehicle owner is notified by mail of a $100 civil penalty. Barking: the brochure says to contact Animal Control during the day and the Police Department at night; Animal Control is 417-833-3592 or its online report form, for non-urgent City ordinance violations within Springfield city limits. Penalty: Division 2 states no penalty of its own for an ordinary noise case, and where the code provides no specific penalty its general penalty applies: a fine of not more than $1,000, jail for not more than 180 days, or both (Sec. 1-7(a)). Every day a violation continues is a separate offense (Sec. 1-7(b)). The one fixed amount in Division 2 is the $100 civil, non-point penalty for a vehicle violation of Sec. 78-112 or 78-113 enforced through the owner-notice route, which is not punishable under Sec. 1-7 (Sec. 78-116(c)); the owner has 30 days from the notice to pay or ask for an administrative hearing, and not doing either counts as an admission of liability (Sec. 78-116(a)). The Animal Control Ordinances page says Animal Control issues citations but does not assign fines or other penalties, and points to Springfield Municipal Court for those. Sources: https://library.municode.com/mo/springfield/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH78OFMIPR_ARTIVOFAGPUPE_DIV2NO, https://library.municode.com/mo/springfield/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH1GEPR, https://www.springfieldmo.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1803/City-of-Springfield-Neighborhood-Toolbox-Brochure-PDF, https://www.springfieldmo.gov/166/Formal-Complaint-Process, https://www.springfieldmo.gov/2313/Contact-SPD, https://www.springfieldmo.gov/1619/Citizen-Resource-Center, https://www.springfieldmo.gov/5566/Report-a-Concern, https://www.springfieldmo.gov/6194/Hear-Something-Say-Something, https://www.springfieldmo.gov/FormCenter/Police-4/Vehicle-Noise-Violation-Complaint-563, https://www.springfieldmo.gov/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/13133, https://www.springfieldmo.gov/6167/Report-an-Animal-Issue and https://www.springfieldmo.gov/6168/Animal-Control-Ordinances.

Step by step, with what to log and what to expect after you file: how to file a noise complaint in Springfield. 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 meter is involved. The noise division has no decibel number: an officer or witness judges by ear whether noise is unreasonably loud, can be heard past a property line, or is plainly audible at 50 feet, and for amplified sound the words need not be made out and bass alone counts (Sec. 78-111). (2) Your phone video can cost a driver $100. Since G.O. No. 6893 (11-18-2024) added Sec. 78-116, the registered owner of a vehicle seen breaking Sec. 78-112 or 78-113 can be mailed a notice of violation, and the City's campaign (announced May 4, 2026) lets residents send in the video. The owner is presumed to have been the driver unless they show otherwise, for example by naming the actual driver or showing the vehicle or plate was stolen (Sec. 78-116(a)(1)b); the notice is presumed received on the fifth day after mailing (Sec. 78-116(b)(2)); and the $100 is a civil, non-point penalty, far below the general penalty of up to $1,000 that a court case can carry (Secs. 78-116(c), 1-7(a)). The City's pages describe this as a violation of Sec. 78-116, but in the code Sec. 78-116 is the enforcement route and the violations themselves are in Secs. 78-112 and 78-113, which list horns sounded for a prolonged, unnecessary and unreasonable time, vehicles so out of repair or so loaded that they grind or rattle, and exhausts without an effective muffler (Sec. 78-113(a)(7), (9), (10)). Sec. 106-15(4) separately bans muffler cutouts. (3) Hosts answer for their guests: it is unlawful to let people gather at your home, property or business and make prohibited loud noises that disturb a person or the neighborhood, and for this rule a person includes a registered local agent (Sec. 78-112(b)). (4) The construction rule follows the sun, not the clock: in a residential district work may run from 7 a.m. to one-half hour before sunset. In an emergency the building inspector may give a permit for up to 30 days, and may also allow evening and night work where public health and safety will not be impaired and loss or inconvenience would otherwise result. Night work on bridges, streets or highways by or for the city, the county or the state is outside the rule when daytime work is impracticable (Sec. 78-113(a)(5)). The clause covers residential districts only. (5) The night music rule has an unusual window, 1:30 a.m. to 6 a.m., and exempts social entertainment in private homes (Sec. 78-113(a)(2)b). The separate 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. property-line rule for residential districts has no private-home exception, and a musical instrument is a sound-producing device under Sec. 78-111, so by its wording that rule still reaches music at a house party (Sec. 78-113(a)(2)c). (6) Barking has no minute count. The test is frequent or long continued noise that disturbs the comfort or repose of any person in the vicinity, and it covers any animal, bird or fowl (Sec. 78-113(a)(1)). Chapter 18 (Animals) has no separate barking section; its nuisance dog rule (Sec. 18-61) is about dogs running at large. For six or fewer backyard chickens, only female chickens are allowed (Sec. 18-24(b)(2)). (7) Exemptions: any ambulance, any officer of the law on necessary public business and any city vehicle on necessary public business are excepted from Sec. 78-113 (Sec. 78-113(b)); events authorized or sponsored by an agency (a political subdivision, governmental agency, public or private school, college or university) on property it owns or controls, for the residential sound device rule and the night yelling rule (Secs. 78-111, 78-113(a)(2)c, (6)); a radio used by a governmental agency in its work, for the vehicle-on-street rule (Sec. 78-113(a)(2)d.1); activities of other governmental bodies that the City Council permits by resolution (Sec. 78-113.5); and, for the amplified sound rules, anything specifically permitted elsewhere in the City Code (Sec. 78-115(2)). (8) Near schools, churches, courts and hospitals: excessive noise on an adjacent street that unreasonably interferes with a school, church or court in session, or any excessive noise on a street adjacent to a hospital, is a listed violation (Sec. 78-113(a)(3)). So is loud and excessive noise from loading or unloading a vehicle or opening boxes and crates, with no hours attached (Sec. 78-113(a)(4)). (9) Outdoor music near homes can need a permit: in every zoning district except residential, outdoor live or amplified music is treated as a special event when the property line the sound comes from is within 500 feet of the lot line of residentially zoned property (Sec. 2-511(a)). In the Center City zoning district the city manager may issue outdoor entertainment permits with the hours given above, and outside the downtown mall and Ozark Jubilee Memorial Park the volume must not unreasonably disturb or alarm another person (Sec. 2-512(a)). (10) Peace disturbance: unreasonably and knowingly disturbing or alarming another person by loud noise is a separate city offense (Sec. 78-114(1)(a)), worded like the state statute the code cites, RSMo 574.010. Sec. 78-114 has no penalty clause of its own, so the general penalty in Sec. 1-7 applies (up to $1,000, up to 180 days in jail, or both). (11) This page covers the City of Springfield only; outside the city limits these sections do not apply.

Document it before you report it

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