How Billings Handles Noise Ordinances: A Practical Guide

Billings maintains 114 local ordinances across all categories, and 7 of those deal specifically with noise ordinances. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Billings falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Aircraft Noise

Billings regulates development near Billings Logan International Airport through an aircraft noise overlay zone, requiring sound insulation for residential and other noise-sensitive uses exposed to Ldn 65 or higher aircraft noise.

Key details: Permit required: Airport influence area permit. Noise threshold: Ldn 65 triggers insulation. Interior target: Ldn 45 max indoor level. Overlay size: ~30,528 x 10,560 ft.

Building without the required airport influence area permit blocks issuance of a city building permit; nonconforming uses can't be reestablished after a one-year discontinuance or expanded beyond 50% of the structure's value.

Vehicle Noise

Billings prohibits motor vehicles from making noise plainly audible 50 feet or more away, covering loud exhaust, engine revving, tire squealing, and amplified stereo bass: a citation carries a $300 fine.

Key details: Distance threshold: 50 feet or more. First offense: $300 civil penalty. Repeat offense (24 mo): $500 civil penalty. Covers: exhaust, revving, tire squealing, stereo bass. Adopted: April 13, 2026 (Ord. 26-5927).

First offense: $300 civil penalty. Repeat violations within 24 months: $500 each. Issued as a municipal infraction; registered owner presumed responsible if driver unidentified.

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

Amplified outdoor events in Billings must shut down by 9 p.m. on weeknights outside downtown (11 p.m. downtown on weekends) unless the city grants a waiver, under Sec. 17-104 of the noise chapter.

Key details: Weeknight cutoff (outside CBD): 9:00 p.m. Sun-Thu. Weekend cutoff (outside CBD): 10:00 p.m. Fri-Sat. Downtown/EBURD cutoff: 10-11 p.m.. Waiver limit per site: 4 per year outside CBD. Governing section: Billings Code Sec. 17-104.

Violating the noise chapter is a municipal infraction with civil penalties under Sec. 18-1304; each day of violation is a separate offense, and persistent noise can be abated as a public nuisance.

Construction Hours

Billings' noise code exempts home, building, and grounds-maintenance construction noise from citywide sound limits only between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Outside that window, the exemption disappears and construction noise can be cited as a public nuisance.

Key details: Exempt hours: 7:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. daily. Outside window: Subject to Sec. 17-102/103 nuisance limits. Penalty: Municipal infraction, civil fine per day. Waiver cap: 4 per address per year (non-CBD). Governing section: City Code Sec. 17-105(5).

Violating the noise chapter is a municipal infraction with civil penalties under Sec. 18-1304; each day the noise continues is a separate offense, and it can also be enjoined as a public nuisance.

Decibel Limits

Billings limits industrial-zone noise to 90 dB(A) maximum by day and 80 dB(A) at night, with lower 80/70 dB(A) average limits, enforced by trained city officials under Sec. 17-103.

Key details: Max daytime (industrial): 90 dB(A), 7am-8pm. Max nighttime (industrial): 80 dB(A), 8pm-7am. Average daytime limit: 80 dB(A). Average nighttime limit: 70 dB(A). Measured at: complainant's property line.

Exceeding the industrial dB(A) limits is a municipal infraction under Sec. 18-1304, with civil penalties for each day the violation continues, plus possible nuisance abatement by court injunction.

Quiet Hours

Billings drops its noise ceiling every night: residential sound must stay under 55 dB(A) max (45 dB(A) average) from 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., versus the 65/55 dB(A) daytime cap allowed 7:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.

Key details: Night window: 8:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m.. Residential night max: 55 dB(A) (45 dB(A) avg). Residential day max: 65 dB(A) (55 dB(A) avg). Outdoor events (non-downtown): must end by 9-10 p.m.. Penalty: civil infraction, Sec. 18-1304.

Municipal infraction with civil penalties under Sec. 18-1304; each day of continued violation is a separate offense, and persistent noise can also be enjoined as a public nuisance.

Barking Dogs

Billings makes it a civil offense to let a dog or other animal bark, howl, or whine persistently enough to unreasonably annoy neighbors, enforced only after a signed written complaint.

Key details: Governing section: Sec. 4-404, Noisy Animals. Standard: Persistent, continuous, habitual noise. Complaint required: Written, signed, with contact info. Penalty: Civil penalty, Sec. 18-1304. Exempt: Vets, boarding, ag/livestock operations.

Civil penalty as a municipal infraction under Sec. 18-1304; the animal control officer investigates only after receiving the identified written complaint.

The Bottom Line

Billings's noise ordinances rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Billings is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Billings can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.