Noise ordinances › St. Paul, MN

St. Paul noise ordinance: quiet hours, limits and complaints

Last updated: October 1, 2026

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Quiet hours in St. Paul

Night runs from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. in Table 1 of Sec. 293.07, where the Class I limit (H1, H2, RM1-RM3, RL, F1, CO and PD districts) drops from 65 to 55 dBA; Class II (70 dBA) and Class III (80 dBA) apply "At all times" with no night reduction. Domestic power tools (any mechanically powered saw, drill, sander, grinder, lawn or garden tool, lawn mower or powered snow removal equipment, 293.01(6)) may not be operated between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. "in a distinctly and loudly audible manner as to unreasonably disturb" anyone nearby; being plainly audible at the property line, in the adjacent hallway or apartment, or at 50 feet from an outdoor source is prima facie evidence (293.06), and from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. such tools are exempt from the Table 1 limits (293.07(d)(4)). An amplified sound permit can authorize sound above Table 1 only from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday (293.09(a)(2)). Chapter 293 sets no construction or demolition hours; 293.07(c) instead caps the equipment at an L10 of 85 dBA at 50 feet. The general nuisance offense (293.02(a)) and the noisy-assembly rule (293.02(b)) carry no fixed hours: "The time of day or night when the noise occurs" is the first listed factor, and the noisy-assembly definition says to consider "the time of day and the residential character of the area" (293.01(8)). A temporary exception for the 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship (December 24, 2025 through January 5, 2026) let amplified sound in the Downtown Entertainment District run without a permit up to 90 dBA at 50 feet between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. (293.02(d)); it is still printed in the code although those dates have passed.

Decibel limits

Yes. Sec. 293.07(a) bars any source from creating "a sound level outdoors" above Table 1 for the receiving land use classification, "As Determined by the Location of the Receiver," stated as a one-hour L10 in dBA (L10 is defined in the MPCA rule adopted by 293.01(11) as the level "exceeded ten percent of the time for a one hour survey"): Class I (H1, H2, RM1-RM3, RL, F1, CO, PD) 65 dBA from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 55 dBA from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.; Class II (T1-T4, OS, BC, B1, B2, F2-F6, VP) 70 dBA at all times; Class III (B3-5, IT-I3) 80 dBA at all times. Sound level means the A-weighted level on a meter meeting ANSI S1.4-1983 (293.01(13)), and the Department of Safety and Inspections must prepare, for City Council approval, and keep on file guidelines on test procedures and instrumentation (293.08(d)(1)); the chapter itself gives no measuring distance for Table 1. Construction or demolition equipment may not exceed an L10 of 85 dBA at 50 feet from the source (293.07(c)(1)). Amplified sound above Table 1 needs a permit under 293.09 or a Council variance under 293.10 (293.02(d), 293.07(d)(5)); a permit allows up to 80 dBA at 50 feet from the source in residential areas and up to 90 dBA in non-residential areas, for no more than 12 hours in a day, 24 hours in 7 days and 36 hours in 28 days per property, at $138 per event (293.09(a)). Vehicles may not exceed the MPCA motor-vehicle noise limits in Minn. R. 7030.1000 through 7030.1600 (293.02(e)(4)), and a vehicle sound system "audible by any person from a distance of fifty (50) feet or more" is a violation (293.02(e)(2)). The meter is not needed for the general offense: 293.02(a) prohibits loud, disturbing or excessive noise judged against a reasonable person of ordinary sensitivities, weighing the time, the duration, the proximity to a sleeping facility or residential area, the land use and zoning at both ends, the number of people affected and "The sound peak pressure level of the noise, in comparison to the level of ambient noise." Animal noise "to the reasonable annoyance of another person" includes, but is not limited to, noise heard from outside the building or premises repeatedly over at least five minutes with no more than a one-minute lapse (293.02(c)).

What the ordinance actually says

Sec. 293.02(a)(1): "It is unlawful for any person to make, continue, permit or cause to be made, continued or permitted within the city, any loud, disturbing or excessive noise which causes significant discomfort or annoyance to a reasonable person of ordinary sensitivities in the area."

Sec. 293.07(a): "No person shall operate or cause to be operated on any property or properties any source of noise or sound in such manner as to create a sound level outdoors which exceeds the limits set forth for the receiving land use classification in Table 1." Table 1 (Sound Level Limit, One hour L10 dBA): "Class I H1, H2, RM1-RM3, RL, F1, CO, PD 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 65 dBA; Class I H1, H2, RM1-RM3, RL, F1, CO, PD 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 55 dBA; Class II T1-T4, OS, BC, B1, B2, F2-F6, VP At all times 70 dBA; Class III B3-5, IT-I3 At all times 80 DBA"

Sec. 293.06: "No person shall operate any domestic power tool between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in a distinctly and loudly audible manner as to unreasonably disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of any person nearby. Operation of a domestic power tool during those hours in such a manner as to be plainly audible at the property line of a structure or building in which it is located, in the hallway or apartment adjacent, or at a distance of fifty (50) feet if the source is located outside a structure or building, shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section."

Sec. 293.02(e)(2): "It is a violation of this section to play, operate or permit the playing, use or operation of any radio, tape player, disc player, loud speaker or other electronic device used for the amplification of music or other entertainment, which is located within a motor vehicle on a public street or alley, or in a commercial or residential parking facility, which is audible by any person from a distance of fifty (50) feet or more from the motor vehicle."

Sec. 293.07(c)(1): "No person shall operate or cause to be operated construction or demolition equipment at any construction site in such a manner that the operation exceeds a L10 noise level of eighty-five (85) dBA at a distance of fifty (50) feet measured from the source."

Sec. 293.01(11): "PCA definitions adopted. Pursuant to Minn. Stat., § 471.62, the definitions contained in the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Air Quality Division Noise Pollution Control Rules, Section 7030.0020, are hereby adopted by reference."

Sec. 293.02(e)(4): "Application of the MPCA rules. No person shall operate a motor vehicle in the city in violation of the motor vehicle noise limits of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Rules, Sections 7030.1000 through 7030.1600."

Sec. 293.02(b)(2): "Remaining at a noisy assembly. It is a violation of this section to participate in, visit or remain at a gathering knowing or having reason to know that the gathering is a noisy assembly, except any person(s) who has/have come to the gathering for the sole purpose of abating the noisy assembly."

Sec. 293.09(a)(2): "Permit duration. amplified sound permits may only be issued to permit amplified sound which exceeds the levels defined in Table 1 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and 7:00 a.m. through 11:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday."

Quoted verbatim from the official codified text (Saint Paul Legislative Code, Title XXVIII "Miscellaneous Offenses," Chapter 293 "Noise Regulations": 293.01 definitions (subd. 11 adopts by reference, under Minn. Stat. § 471.62, the definitions in Minnesota Pollution Control Agency noise rule 7030.0020), 293.02 noise as a public nuisance (general standard, noisy assembly, animals, amplified sound, motor vehicles including the MPCA motor-vehicle limits in 7030.1000 through 7030.1600, penalties), 293.03 reserved, 293.04 railroad locomotives sounding whistles, 293.05 exhaust, 293.06 domestic power tools, 293.07 noise source limitations (Table 1, construction and demolition, exemptions), 293.08 administration and enforcement, 293.09 amplified sound permits, 293.10 variances. History notes include Ord. No. 16915 (5-20-82), C.F. No. 02-653 (8-14-02, which replaced 293.02 and renumbered the chapter), Ord 23-60 (12-13-23, which amended 293.01, 293.02 and 293.04 through 293.10 and is the earliest note on the current 293.09), Ord 24-10 (4-24-24) and Ord. No. 25-69 (11-19-25, the World Junior Hockey Championship exception in 293.02(d)). The Municode edition is codified through Ordinance No. 26-26, adopted May 13, 2026 (Supp. No. 133, Update 1). Text read on Municode (the City's code host) on 2026-10-01.). Verified against the live code on 2026-10-01. 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 St. Paul

Per stpaul.gov, Department of Safety and Inspections page "Noise and sound-level limits in Saint Paul": "Call the City of Saint Paul Information and Complaint line at 651-266-8989 Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., to report noise that may be louder than what is permitted"; the complaint is entered anonymously, reviewed by DSI staff, and the page calls this option best for noise from events or repeated violations from one property. Or call the Saint Paul Police Department's non-emergency line at 651-291-1111, "monitored 24 hours a day"; barking dogs go to Saint Paul Animal Control at 651-266-1100 during business hours (651-291-1111 after hours), and illegal or dangerous activity to 911. Under Sec. 293.08 the Police Department has primary responsibility for enforcing 293.02 through 293.08, DSI enforces the permits it issues and the variances the Council grants (limited to issuing orders and revoking or denying future permits or variances), and Parks and Recreation issues and enforces amplified sound permits on parks property. Amplified sound permits cost $138 per event, and the applicant must show it has notified its district council, and DSI notices adjacent properties within a 300-foot radius (293.09(a)(5)); sound level variances are granted by City Council resolution after a public hearing with mailed notice to owners within 300 feet (293.10). Unless the chapter provides otherwise, a violation of any section is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both, and each day is a separate offense (293.02(f)).

Step by step, with what to log and what to expect after you file: how to file a noise complaint in St. Paul. 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 table's measure is a one-hour L10, the level exceeded 10 percent of the time in an hour, so a few loud bursts may not move it while a steady source will; the City's own noise page describes the same limit as "65 decibels adjusted (dBa) averaged for one hour," which is not what L10 means. (2) State rule: the Table 1 numbers match the L10 column of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's noise standards, Minn. R. 7030.0040 (read separately on revisor.mn.gov: NAC 1 65 day / 55 night, NAC 2 70, NAC 3 80), but Chapter 293 adopts by reference only the state definitions (7030.0020) and separately forbids operating a motor vehicle in violation of the motor-vehicle limits (7030.1000 through 7030.1600, 293.02(e)(4)); it does not adopt 7030.0040 or repeat that rule's L50 limits (60 / 50, 65, 75). (3) The limit follows the receiver: Table 1 is "As Determined by the Location of the Receiver," so a business or industrial source next to homes is held to 65 / 55 dBA at the residential side. Table 1 lists no figure for the CV conservancy district. (4) Construction has no curfew in Chapter 293, only the 85 dBA L10 cap at 50 feet; 293.07(c)(2) tells sites "within or abuts residentially zoned property within Class II" to observe "the noise limits specified in paragraph (b) of this section," but paragraph (b) reads "Reserved." (5) The party rule reaches guests: knowingly permitting a noisy assembly in a residentially zoned or used area or building is a violation for whoever controls it, and anyone who participates in, visits or remains at a gathering knowing it is a noisy assembly also violates 293.02(b), except a person who came solely to stop it; a noisy assembly needs more than one person (293.01(8)). (6) Car audio liability falls on the owner if present, otherwise on whoever has control of the vehicle, and on anyone who controls or assists with the sound (293.02(e)(2)). (7) The power-tool rule includes snow blowers and has no snow exception in 293.06; the only snowplow exemption in the chapter is for city snowplowing vehicles (293.07(d)(2)). (8) Locomotive whistles may be sounded only "as a warning of imminent and immediate danger to life or property" (293.04(b)). (9) The municipal stadium's MLS home games and league events are exempt, but musical performances, fireworks and unrelated commercial events there are not (293.07(d)(7)); no amplified sound permit or variance may put amplified music, announcements or cheer stations on Spring Street or Chestnut Plaza (293.09(a)(6), 293.10(d)(3)). (10) The City's noise page lists "Radios, paging systems" and "Defective/unsecured loads" as illegal noises and says booming car stereos "may be fined up to $500 for a second offense"; the provisions on radios and paging systems and on defective vehicles and loads were repealed in 2002 (editor's note to 293.06), and the current penalty for any violation is up to 90 days and $1,000 (293.02(f)).

Document it before you report it

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