How Florissant Handles Noise Ordinances: A Practical Guide

Florissant maintains 116 local ordinances across all categories, and 5 of those deal specifically with noise ordinances. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Florissant falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Quiet Hours

Florissant's general noise ordinance bans loud, unnecessary or unusual noise that disturbs neighborhood peace, and sets an 11:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. window in which a radio, TV or similar device audible 50 feet away is automatically treated as a violation.

Key details: Governing section: § 210.750, Noises Prohibited Generally. Enacted by: Ord. No. 6274, 7-12-1999. Quiet hours: 11:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M.. Audibility threshold: Plainly audible at 50 feet. Penalty: Up to $1,000 fine / 3 months jail (§ 100.080).

Operating a radio, TV or similar device audible 50 feet away between 11 P.M. and 7 A.M. is prima facie evidence of a Section 210.750 violation. With no specific penalty in the noise section itself, punishment falls to Section 100.080: up to $1,000 in fines, up to three months in jail, or both, per offense.

Construction Hours

Florissant limits noisy exterior construction, demolition, alteration or repair work to 7:00 A.M.-8:00 P.M. Monday through Saturday and 9:00 A.M.-8:00 P.M. on Sunday, with an exception for emergency work by governmental authorities or public utilities.

Key details: Governing section: § 210.750(B)(10). Mon-Sat hours: 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.. Sunday hours: 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.. Exception: Emergency work by government/public utilities. Penalty: Up to $1,000 fine / 3 months jail (§ 100.080).

Running noisy construction, demolition or repair machinery outside the permitted 7 A.M.-8 P.M. weekday/9 A.M.-8 P.M. Sunday window violates Section 210.750(B)(10). With no dedicated penalty in the noise chapter, Section 100.080's general penalty applies: up to $1,000 and up to three months in jail, per day of violation.

Vehicle Noise

Florissant bans muffler cutouts outright and requires every motor vehicle to run a properly attached muffler that quiets exhaust noise as completely as a modern gas passenger car under Section 380.140(B). Horns and other signaling devices may only be used to warn, never to make unnecessary noise, and any cutout in the exhaust pipe must stay permanently closed while the vehicle moves.

Key details: Governing section: Chapter 380, § 380.140(B), Vehicle Equipment. Muffler cutouts: Banned outright, no exceptions. Noise standard: As quiet as a modern factory passenger car. Horn use: Warning purposes only, § 380.140(A). Penalty: Up to $1,000 fine or 3 months jail.

A muffler-cutout or excessive-noise citation under Section 380.140 carries Florissant's general penalty, Section 100.080: a fine up to $1,000, up to three months in the city or county jail, or both, since the Section itself sets no separate fine. Each vehicle stop is charged as a single offense rather than a per-day violation, and a Police Officer can write the ticket on sound and visible modification alone without a decibel meter.

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

Florissant bars using loudspeakers, sound amplifiers or similar devices to cast advertising sound onto public streets unless legally authorized, and lets an announcer speak in person over a loudspeaker only without any mechanical amplification device.

Key details: Governing section: § 210.750(B)(3) and (B)(17). Enacted by: Ord. No. 6274, 7-12-1999. Announcer rule: In-person only, no mechanical amplification. Sound trucks: Commercial advertising trucks barred outright. Penalty: Up to $1,000 fine / 3 months jail (§ 100.080).

Casting amplified advertising sound onto public streets, or running an advertising sound truck, without authorization violates Section 210.750(B)(3) and (B)(17). With no dedicated penalty in the noise chapter, the Section 100.080 general penalty applies: up to $1,000 in fines and up to three months in jail, per offense.

Barking Dogs

Florissant makes it unlawful under Section 205.065 to keep a dog or any other animal that emits barking or other noise causing actual physical or mental discomfort to a normal person of ordinary sensibilities, tastes and habits.

Key details: Prohibited: barking or noise causing actual discomfort. Legal standard: 'normal person of ordinary sensibilities'. Scope: any animal, not only dogs. Chapter: 205, Animal Regulations, Art. I. Max penalty: $1,000 fine / 3 months jail.

Section 205.065 carries no fine of its own, so a conviction is punished under Section 100.080's general penalty: up to a $1,000 fine, up to three months in the City or County Jail, or both, with each day the noise continues potentially charged as a separate offense. Cases proceed in Florissant Municipal Court.

The Bottom Line

Florissant'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 Florissant is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Florissant 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.