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Noise ordinances › Apartment quiet hours
Apartment quiet hours
Quiet hours in an apartment come from two places: the lease, which most often names 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and the city noise ordinance, which sets a night window or a lower night decibel limit. The stricter of the two applies. Below are the verified night rules for the 29 US cities we have read the code for, and the levels that count as too loud.
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Night rules by city, from the code itself
Each line is the night provision as written in that city's ordinance, verified on the date shown on the city page. Open the city for the section numbers, the decibel limits and where to complain.
| City | Night rule |
|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. (50 dBA indoors); construction near homes 10 p.m. – 6 a.m., Sundays: permit |
| Anaheim, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. for parties; 60 dBA all hours; construction exempt 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. |
| Anchorage, AK | 10 p.m.–7 a.m. (50 dBA Lmax residential); construction 6/7 a.m.–10 p.m., not Sundays/holidays |
| Arlington, TX | No set hours: unreasonable noise near a home is disorderly conduct (state law) |
| Arlington County, VA | 9 p.m. – 7 a.m. (until 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sunday and legal holiday mornings) |
| Atlanta, GA | 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. Sun–Thu, midnight – 7 a.m. Fri–Sat: the 100-foot rule (Sec. 74-131(b)) |
| Aurora, CO | 9:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (45 dBA at homes); disturbing loudspeakers 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. |
| Austin, TX | 10:30 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.: no noise or music audible next door (Sec. 9-2-3) |
| Bakersfield, CA | No general curfew; construction 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. weekends |
| Baltimore, MD | 9:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.: limits drop 5 dB(A) (§ 9-207); power tools only 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. weekdays |
| Baton Rouge, LA | No general quiet hours (commercial cap 75 dB 11 p.m. – 7 a.m.; construction rules near homes) |
| Birmingham, AL | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (construction, power tools, trash pickup, loading near homes) |
| Boise, ID | No quiet hours; the audibility tests apply at all hours |
| Boston, MA | 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| Buffalo, NY | 9 p.m. – 7 a.m. for construction and lawn equipment; the code's "day" ends 11 p.m. Fri–Sat |
| Chandler, AZ | No general quiet hours; construction near homes 5 a.m.–10 p.m. weekdays, 7–7 weekends/holidays |
| Charlotte, NC | 9:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| Chesapeake, VA | 10:00 p.m. – 6:30 a.m. Mon–Sat; 10:00 p.m. Sat – 8:00 a.m. Sun |
| Chicago, IL | 8:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m. (10:00 p.m. amplified sound) |
| Chula Vista, CA | 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. weekdays; 10 p.m. – 8 a.m. weekends |
| Cincinnati, OH | 7 p.m. – 7 a.m. (55 dBA residential; 60 Fri–Sat); construction needs permit 9 p.m. – 7 a.m. |
| Cleveland, OH | 7:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (construction and unnecessary noise within 500 ft of homes) |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 7:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (50 dBA residential); construction held to industrial levels |
| Columbus, OH | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 11:01 p.m. – 8 a.m. Sun–Thu, 12:01 – 7 a.m. Fri–Sat (60 dBA); construction 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. |
| Dallas, TX | No named quiet hours; construction near homes only 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. weekdays (Sec. 30-2(8)) |
| Denver, CO | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| Des Moines, IA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (residential and P1 limit 60 to 50; no construction tools) |
| Detroit, MI | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| Durham, NC | 11 p.m. – 8 a.m.; construction in residential/business districts 8 p.m. – 7 a.m. and all Sunday |
| El Paso, TX | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (70 dBA / 75 dBC); restaurants from 11 p.m. Fri–Sat |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (sound devices may not be audible off the source's location) |
| Fort Worth, TX | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (60 dBA residential); construction 7 a.m. – 8 p.m., 9 a.m. on weekends |
| Fremont, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.; construction near homes 7 a.m.–7 p.m. weekdays, none Sunday |
| Fresno, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (ambient floor 50 dB); construction 7 a.m. – 10 p.m., never Sunday |
| Garland, TX | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (lower night limits; no outdoor power equipment in residential zones) |
| Gilbert, AZ | 10 p.m. – 5 a.m. (45 dBA inside homes); yelling and loud noise barred 9 p.m. – 7 a.m. |
| Glendale, AZ | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. for music heard off the premises; car stereos 50 ft at all hours |
| Greensboro, NC | 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.; construction in residential districts 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| Henderson, NV | Loud amplified 10 p.m.–7 a.m. (10 a.m. weekends); building 6 a.m.–6 p.m.; dB table night 9 p.m. |
| Hialeah, FL | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. for construction, drilling and repair tools; music has no set hours |
| Honolulu, HI | Machinery 10 p.m.–7 a.m. (45 dBA homes); loud building 7–6 weekdays, 9–6 Sat, not Sun/holidays |
| Houston, TX | 10:01 p.m. – 7:59 a.m. |
| Huntsville, AL | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| Indianapolis, IN | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (construction and pile drivers: 7:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.) |
| Inglewood, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (night base level applies) |
| Irvine, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (lower dB limit); construction 7 a.m.–7 p.m. weekdays, 9–6 Sat |
| Irving, TX | 10:00 p.m. – 6:59 a.m. (11:00 p.m. Fri–Sat on listed blocks and high-intensity mixed use) |
| Jacksonville, FL | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| Jersey City, NJ | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (50 dBA outdoors, 40 dBA indoors at homes) |
| Kansas City, MO | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (55 dBA outside, 40 dBA inside); car stereos 25 ft at night |
| Laredo, TX | 8:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (construction, power and lawn tools); 55 dB(A) device rule at all hours |
| Las Vegas, NV | 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| Lexington, KY | 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. for tools, loading and loudspeakers; music has no set hours |
| Lincoln, NE | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (lower dB limits); construction 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. |
| Long Beach, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (45 dBA outside, 35 dBA inside); construction 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. weekdays |
| Los Angeles, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (construction: 9:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m., no Sundays except your own home) |
| Louisville, KY | No blanket quiet hours (audibility test applies 24 h) |
| Lubbock, TX | 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. (commercial construction, outdoor power equipment, mechanical devices) |
| Madison, WI | No single window — activity-specific rules (construction, amplification, collection) |
| Memphis, TN | 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| Mesa, AZ | 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. weighs against you; construction 6:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Miami, FL | 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. business music (Sec. 36-5); outdoor music near homes 10 p.m. – 8 a.m. |
| Milwaukee, WI | 9:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (NR 45 residential); mowers and yard tools barred 9 p.m. – 8 a.m. |
| Minneapolis, MN | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (night limits); parties from 10 p.m.; yard tools until 10 p.m. |
| Nashville, TN | No single window; commercial 9:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. |
| New Orleans, LA | Night 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. (8 a.m. weekends); neighbour music cut-off 9 p.m. Sun–Thu (Sec. 66-203) |
| New York, NY | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| Newark, NJ | 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. (50 dBA at homes); construction curbed 8 p.m. – 7 a.m. weekdays, all Sunday |
| Norfolk, VA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| North Las Vegas, NV | No curfew; 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. named for music and shouting; construction allowed 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. |
| Oakland, CA | 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. (45 dBA); persistent noise 9 p.m.; construction day levels 7–7, weekends 9–8 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| Omaha, NE | 9:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (55 dBA residential); construction 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. barred |
| Orlando, FL | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (55 dBA residential); construction exempt 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., not Sundays |
| Philadelphia, PA | No general quiet hours; dB limits apply 24 h |
| Phoenix, AZ | 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (emphasis window, not an absolute cutoff) |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. (55 dBA unamplified, 75 amplified); construction 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. weekdays |
| Plano, TX | 10:01 p.m. – 6:59 a.m. (55 dB residential); no construction within 500 ft of homes |
| Portland, OR | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| Raleigh, NC | 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.; construction 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.; venues 55 dB(A) after 10/11 p.m. |
| Reno, NV | No citywide curfew; 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. 49 dB limit for nonresidential sites near homes |
| Richmond, VA | 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (55 dBA at homes; 65 dBA by day) |
| Riverside, CA | 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. (45 dBA); construction exempt 7 a.m.–7 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Sat |
| Rochester, NY | 10:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m. (audible at the property line); construction 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. |
| Rockford, IL | Tiered: outdoor amplified music banned 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. near residences |
| Sacramento, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (50 dBA outside, 45 dBA between units) |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 9:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (9:00 a.m. when the next day is a Sunday or legal holiday) |
| San Antonio, TX | 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday |
| San Diego, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| San Francisco, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (45 dBA indoors); construction 8:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| San Jose, CA | No set hours: disturbing or unreasonably loud at any time |
| Santa Ana, CA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (50 dBA); construction exempt only 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Mon–Sat |
| Scottsdale, AZ | 10 p.m. – 9 a.m. for parties (68 dBA presumption); car stereos 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. |
| Seattle, WA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. weekdays; 10:00 p.m. – 9:00 a.m. weekends and legal holidays |
| Spokane, WA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (residential limits drop 10 dBA) |
| Spring Valley, NV | Night limits outside 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Title 30 "daytime hours") |
| St. Louis, MO | 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. (50 dBA stationary, A–E); no construction before 6 a.m. or after dusk Mon–Sat |
| St. Paul, MN | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (55 dBA L10 residential); loud power tools barred the same hours |
| St. Petersburg, FL | 11 p.m. – 8 a.m. for music and sound devices; midnight Fri, Sat and pre-holiday for some uses |
| Stockton, CA | 10 p.m.–7 a.m. (45 dB Leq, 65 Lmax), construction included; power tools 9 p.m.–8 a.m. |
| Tacoma, WA | 10 p.m. – 7 a.m.; construction limited 9 p.m. – 7 a.m. (to 9 a.m. weekends, federal holidays) |
| Tampa, FL | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.: plainly audible 100 ft away is prima facie a violation (Sec. 14-154(e)) |
| Toledo, OH | 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. (machinery dB limits); the music rule names 9 p.m. – 7 a.m. |
| Tucson, AZ | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (62 dBA residential); construction 8 p.m. – sunrise, none Sunday |
| Tulsa, OK | No set hours: unreasonably loud or disturbing at any time |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (55 dBA inside your home); construction 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. |
| Washington, DC | 9:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (10:00 p.m. criminal offence) |
| Wichita, KS | 10:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m. (50 dBA residential); construction 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. |
| Winston-Salem, NC | Music "particularly" 11 p.m. – 7 a.m.; mowers and tools near homes 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. |
| Worcester, MA | No single window — activity-specific nighttime rules |
Your city not listed? The noise ordinance hub explains how to find the noise chapter in any municipal code in about two minutes.
What your lease adds
Underneath the lease sits the covenant of quiet enjoyment, the implied promise that the landlord will not let conditions they control make the home unlivable.
A lease can be stricter than the city, never looser. Common clauses: a named quiet window, a ban on amplified music at any hour that is audible outside the unit, and a "reasonable enjoyment" clause that lets the landlord act on repeated complaints without a decibel number. Breaking a quiet-hours clause is a lease violation first; the city ordinance only enters if someone calls it in.
The levels that count as too loud
- Meter cities set a night limit at the property line, typically 45 to 55 dBA. Normal conversation is 60 to 70 dB; through a wall it lands near the limit.
- Audibility cities forbid noise plainly audible at a distance, commonly 50 feet, with no number at all.
- Hybrid cities use both, and the audibility rule usually bites first at night.
Check the level where you are with the free online decibel meter, then read how to make a noise complaint that gets acted on.
What are typical apartment quiet hours?
Most leases and city ordinances set quiet hours overnight, commonly starting at 10 p.m. and ending between 6 and 8 a.m., with some cities extending the start to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The exact window is set by two documents: your lease or building rules, and your city's noise ordinance. Where they differ, the stricter one applies to you.
Are quiet hours the law or just a lease rule?
Both exist. A lease clause is a contract between you and the landlord and is enforced through the landlord. A city noise ordinance is law and is enforced by code enforcement or police. Many cities define night by a lower permitted decibel level rather than a named "quiet hours" clause, so the ordinance page for your city is the place to check.
How loud is too loud during quiet hours?
Cities that use a meter standard typically permit around 45 to 55 dBA at the property line at night, roughly the level of a quiet conversation heard through a wall. Cities that use an audibility standard forbid noise that is plainly audible at a set distance, often 50 feet, regardless of the number. Either way, bass and footsteps carry further than voices.
How do I measure noise from a neighbour?
Stand where the noise reaches you, inside your unit with windows closed if that is where the complaint is, and take a reading over a minute rather than a peak. The free online decibel meter gives an average and a peak; note the time and the level, and compare it to your city's night limit. See the noise complaints guide for how to document it.
