De Pere's Noise Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles noise ordinances a little differently. In De Pere, Wisconsin, there are 6 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Barking Dogs

De Pere treats a dog or other animal whose frequent or habitual howling, yelping, barking or crowing 'greatly annoys or disturbs' a neighborhood as a public nuisance under City Code section 78-1(3)l. The chief of police, health officer or another inspecting officer investigates complaints, and the city can order the noise abated or pursue a forfeiture in municipal court.

Key details: Governing section: City Code § 78-1(3)l. Standard: Habitual barking/howling that 'greatly annoys' a neighborhood. Investigating officers: Police chief, health officer or building inspector. Emergency abatement notice: 24 hours (§ 78-2). First-offense forfeiture: $1.00 to $2,000.00 (§ 1-11).

A confirmed violation is a municipal forfeiture of $1.00 to $2,000.00 per offense under section 1-11, rising to a $10.00 floor for a second conviction of the same animal owner. Each day the barking continues after notice is a separate offense, and unpaid forfeitures plus the city's abatement costs can be assessed against the property as a special tax under section 78-3.

Quiet Hours

De Pere bars lawn mowers, garden tools, riding tractors and similar power equipment from running between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., the one exception being snow removal equipment, under Section 146-7(4) of the noise ordinance.

Key details: Curfew hours: 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.. Equipment covered: Lawn mowers, garden tools, riding tractors. Exception: Snow removal equipment exempt from curfew. Enforced by: Health, inspection and police departments. Legal treatment: Excessive nighttime noise is a public nuisance.

Running lawn or garden power equipment after 10:00 p.m. or before 7:00 a.m., other than snow removal equipment, violates Section 146-7(4) and draws the forfeiture the common council sets by resolution under Section 146-13, with each day of a continuing violation charged as a separate offense, and the noise can be summarily abated as a public nuisance.

Decibel Limits

De Pere caps sound at the lot line by zone and time of day: 57 dB(A) daytime and 52 dB(A) at night in residential zones, rising to 72 dB(A) daytime and 67 dB(A) at night in commercial and employment zones, under Table 1-1 of Section 146-9.

Key details: Residential, day/night: 57 dB(A) / 52 dB(A). Mixed-use, day/night: 63 dB(A) / 58 dB(A). Commercial/employment, day/night: 72 dB(A) / 67 dB(A). Tonal sound penalty: Extra 5 dB reduction applied. Measured at: The property lot line.

Operating a source of sound that exceeds the dB(A) ceiling for its zone and time of day violates Section 146-9 and draws the forfeiture the common council sets by resolution under Section 146-13, with each day of continued excess treated as a separate offense, on top of any summary abatement of the noise as a public nuisance.

Vehicle Noise

De Pere prohibits engaging a truck's compression brake, commonly called a Jake brake, anywhere within city limits except to avoid imminent danger. City Code § 150-25 defines a compression brake as a device that converts a truck engine into an air compressor for braking and exempts only fire trucks and fire equipment from the ban.

Key details: Prohibited device: Engine compression (Jake) brake. Geographic reach: Anywhere within city limits. Exceptions: Imminent danger; fire trucks/equipment. Maximum forfeiture: $1,000.00 per occurrence. Added to code: Ordinance No. 19-29, Dec. 17, 2019.

Engaging a compression brake within city limits outside the imminent-danger or fire-apparatus exceptions is punishable by the chapter's general penalty, section 150-24(c): a forfeiture of up to $1,000.00 per occurrence, issued by a De Pere police officer who can cite a driver based on the distinctive braking noise alone.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. De Pere actively enforces its vehicle noise requirements.

Construction Hours

De Pere exempts construction and public-utility work from its noise limits only during daytime hours, Monday through Saturday; work outside that window, including Sundays, falls back under the full numeric noise limits or needs a written variance from the director of public works.

Key details: Exempt hours: 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Sundays: Not covered by the construction exemption. Extended equipment rule: Shielding required past 10 days in residential areas. Variance authority: Director of public works. Variance lead time: At least 10 calendar days before start.

Construction noise that runs outside the Monday-through-Saturday daytime exemption, without an approved variance, is treated as excessive noise under Chapter 146 and can be summarily abated in addition to the forfeiture the common council sets by resolution; each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense under Section 146-13.

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

De Pere's noise ordinance sets hard decibel ceilings measured at the lot line: 57 dB(A) daytime and 52 dB(A) at night in residential zones, rising to 72/67 dB(A) in commercial and employment zones. Tonal sounds get a 5 dB reduction, and a special variance permit is the only way to exceed the limits.

Key details: Residential limit: 57 dB(A) day, 52 dB(A) night. Commercial limit: 72 dB(A) day, 67 dB(A) night. Tonal sound adjustment: Extra 5 dB reduction applied. Variance cutoff: Never past 11:00 p.m.. Enforcement: Health, inspection and police departments.

Operating any source of sound that exceeds the Table 1-1 limits for its zone, at the lot line or across a zone boundary, violates § 146-9 and is declared a public nuisance under § 146-5, subject to summary abatement. Every violation carries a forfeiture set by resolution of the common council under § 146-13, with each day of a continuing violation a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

De Pere'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 De Pere is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects De Pere's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.