How Everett Handles Noise Ordinances: A Practical Guide

Everett maintains 131 local ordinances across all categories, and 8 of those deal specifically with noise ordinances. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Everett falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Construction Hours

Everett exempts temporary construction-site noise from its Chapter 20.08 limits only between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekends: outside those hours it is not exempt.

Key details: Weekday hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.. Weekend/holiday hours: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.. District I weekend: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. only. Chapter: EMC Ch. 20.08, Noise Control.

Construction noise outside the exempt hours, before 7 a.m. or after 10 p.m. weekdays, or outside the shorter District I weekend window, loses its § 20.08.110(H) exemption and is enforceable under the chapter's general noise limits.

Leaf Blower Rules

Everett exempts noise from powered yard and maintenance equipment, including leaf blowers, from its nuisance noise chapter only between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

Key details: Weekday exemption: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.. Weekend/holiday exemption: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.. Covers: Powered residential maintenance equipment. Outside hours: Falls under general nuisance noise rule. Citation: EMC § 20.08.110(A).

Running loud yard equipment outside the exempt hours can be charged as a public nuisance noise violation, a misdemeanor under EMC 20.08.090, enforced by Everett police.

Decibel Limits

Everett limits noise from District III industrial and agricultural zones (AG, LI, HI, WRM) to 60 dB(A) reaching residential District I, 65 dB(A) reaching mixed-use District II, and 70 dB(A) reaching another District III property, per Everett Municipal Code § 20.08.040.

Key details: District III source to District I: 60 dB(A). District III source to District II: 65 dB(A). District III source to District III: 70 dB(A). Measurement standard: One-hour Leq, ANSI meter. Enforcement: Ch. 1.20 EMC; misdemeanor after 3 notices.

Confirmed violation via certified sound-level-meter reading triggers enforcement under Chapter 1.20 EMC; three or more prior notices within 365 days makes a further violation a misdemeanor.

Vehicle Noise

Everett requires every motor vehicle on a public highway to run a working muffler and exhaust system at all times, bans tire squeal from rapid acceleration or cornering, and bars modifying an exhaust to amplify engine noise, per Everett Municipal Code § 20.08.080.

Key details: Muffler: Required at all times. Tire squeal: Banned from rapid acceleration/cornering. Exhaust mods: Cannot amplify engine noise. Penalty: Traffic infraction, RCW 46.37 process.

All three prohibitions (bad muffler, tire squeal, illegal exhaust modification) are traffic infractions cited and enforced the same as Chapter 46.37 RCW violations: a ticket, not a criminal charge.

Aircraft Noise

Everett's noise ordinance does not regulate aircraft noise. EMC 20.08.100(A)(1) exempts noise from aircraft in flight and airport sounds directly tied to flight operations at all times, so there is no decibel limit, curfew, or nuisance citation available against overflight noise from Paine Field or Naval Station Everett within city limits.

Key details: Governing section: EMC 20.08.100(A)(1). In-flight aircraft noise: Exempt at all times. Ground engine testing exemption: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. weekdays only (EMC 20.08.110(B)). Enforcing official: Police chief or building official (administrator). Related exemption: Federal military facility noise, also exempt.

Because in-flight aircraft and airport-flight-operation noise is exempt "at all times" under EMC 20.08.100(A)(1), it cannot generate a violation, notice and order, or civil penalty under Chapter 20.08 or the citywide enforcement procedures in EMC Chapter 1.20. Ground engine testing or maintenance noise outside the 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekday window (9 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekends/holidays) loses its EMC 20.08.110(B) exemption and can be enforced like any other environmental sound violation, with penalties running through EMC Chapter 1.20's general civil-code-enforcement track.

Everett is more permissive than most cities when it comes to aircraft noise. That said, there are still limits.

Barking Dogs

Everett bans knowingly letting a pet's frequent, continuous or repetitive barking or noise unreasonably disturb the peace and comfort of neighboring property owners, with a carve-out for licensed shelters and vet hospitals.

Key details: Prohibited conduct: Frequent, continuous or repetitive barking. Standard: Unreasonably disturbs neighbors' peace. Enforced by: Everett Animal Control. Penalty: Infraction, up to $250 fine. Exemption: Licensed shelters and vet hospitals.

Violating the barking-nuisance provision is an infraction under EMC 6.04.140, punishable by a fine of up to $250; the city may also seek a court injunction against repeat offenders.

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

Everett bars frequent, repetitive or continuous sound from audio equipment, musical instruments, band sessions and outdoor events once it's plainly audible across a property line or 50 feet from the source: no decibel meter needed to enforce it.

Key details: Standard: Plainly audible, not a decibel limit. Distance: Across property line or 50 ft. Covers: Audio equipment, instruments, band sessions, outdoor events. Penalty: Misdemeanor; gross misdemeanor after 3 in 365 days. Citation: EMC § 20.08.090(B)(3).

Amplified sound plainly audible across a property line or 50 feet away is a misdemeanor nuisance-noise violation; repeat violations within a year escalate to a gross misdemeanor.

Quiet Hours

Everett cuts its noise limits by 10 dB(A) for sound reaching residential District I properties between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. and 9 a.m. on weekends, under Everett Municipal Code § 20.08.040(B)(1).

Key details: Weekday curfew: 10 p.m.-7 a.m.. Weekend curfew: 10 p.m.-9 a.m.. Reduction: 10 dB(A) off standard limit. Applies to: District I (residential) receiving property.

Nighttime sound exceeding the reduced dB(A) cap near District I properties is enforced the same as any § 20.08.040 violation: certified meter reading, Chapter 1.20 EMC process, misdemeanor for habitual violators.

The Bottom Line

Everett'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 Everett is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Everett 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.