Kennewick's Noise Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles noise ordinances a little differently. In Kennewick, Washington, there are 8 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.

Quiet Hours

Kennewick has not codified a single posted clock-hour quiet period. Instead, nighttime noise inside the city is controlled by the Washington Department of Ecology's environmental noise rule, WAC 173-60-040, which reduces the maximum permissible noise level at any Class A (residential) receiving property by 10 dBA between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The Kennewick Municipal Code's public-disturbance noise provisions, accessible through the Code Publishing portal, supply the local civil-infraction backstop.

Key details: Nighttime Window: 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (WAC 173-60-040). Nighttime Reduction: 10 dBA lower at residential receivers. Daytime Limit (Residential to Residential): 55 dBA (Class A to Class A). Nighttime Limit (Residential to Residential): 45 dBA. State Authority: RCW 70A.20 (formerly 70.107).

Active disturbances are handled by Kennewick Police as civil infractions under the city's public-disturbance noise provisions. WAC 173-60 exceedances may be investigated under RCW 70A.20 by the Department of Ecology or by local jurisdictions that have adopted the state standards, with notice-and-correction procedures and civil penalties.

Construction Hours

Construction noise in Kennewick is exempt from the WAC 173-60 maximum environmental noise levels during daytime hours under WAC 173-60-050(4), but the exemption disappears between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. at any Class A (residential) receiving property. Outside that nighttime window, construction-equipment sound is also bounded by the Kennewick Municipal Code's general public-disturbance provisions and by site-specific conditions Kennewick may impose on a permit.

Key details: Daytime Exemption: Construction exempt from WAC 173-60-040 daytime caps (WAC 173-60-050(4)). Nighttime Window: 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. - exemption does not apply. Nighttime Residential Cap: 45 dBA (Class A receiver). Local Backstop: Kennewick Municipal Code public-disturbance provisions. Permit Conditions: May restrict hours under KMC Title 15 / Title 12.

Construction-hour violations between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. are enforceable under WAC 173-60 by the Department of Ecology or by local jurisdictions that have adopted the standards. Public-disturbance noise during exempt daytime hours is enforceable as a civil infraction by Kennewick Police or Code Enforcement. Permit-condition violations may trigger stop-work orders by Kennewick Development Services.

Barking Dogs

Persistent or habitual barking, howling, or other animal noise that disturbs the peace is regulated as a public-disturbance noise nuisance under the Kennewick Municipal Code's animal-control and public-peace chapters, accessible through the Code Publishing portal. Frequently repeated or continuous barking audible at the property line is a civil infraction; Kennewick Animal Control and Code Enforcement handle complaints and may require written complaints from multiple neighbors before pursuing a case.

Key details: Local Authority: Kennewick Municipal Code (animal-control and public-peace chapters). Standard: Frequently repeated or continuous noise that unreasonably disturbs. Nighttime Backstop: WAC 173-60-040 45 dBA residential cap (10 p.m.-7 a.m.). Complaint Channel: Kennewick Animal Control / Code Enforcement. Responsible Party: Animal owner / property keeper.

Civil infractions are issued under the Kennewick Municipal Code public-disturbance and animal-control provisions, with fines set by the city's bail schedule. Repeat or escalating violations may trigger a hearing before the Kennewick Municipal Court and an order requiring abatement (containment, soundproofing, or removal of the animal). Self-help against a neighbor's dog is barred; Washington tort law governs civil claims for unreasonable interference with use and enjoyment of property.

Leaf Blower Rules

Kennewick has not codified a gas leaf blower ban, a decibel cap specific to leaf blowers, or restricted hours of operation. Use is governed by the general public-disturbance noise provisions of the Kennewick Municipal Code and by the statewide WAC 173-60 environmental noise standards, which lower the maximum permissible noise level at any residential receiving property by 10 dBA between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

Key details: Local Leaf Blower Ban: None codified. Decibel Cap: None specific; WAC 173-60-040 caps apply by receiver. Hours Restriction: None specific; nighttime 10 dBA reduction applies. Gas vs. Electric: Both permitted. Typical Blower Output: 65-75 dBA at 50 ft (manufacturer specs vary).

Operation of a leaf blower in violation of the Kennewick public-disturbance noise rule, or producing sound that exceeds the WAC 173-60-040 caps at a neighboring property, is a civil infraction enforceable by Kennewick Code Enforcement or Police, with fines set by the city's bail schedule. Repeat violations may trigger escalating penalties under the standard civil-infraction schedule.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Kennewick gives residents more flexibility on leaf blower rules.

Amplified Music & Events

Amplified music in Kennewick is regulated under the Kennewick Municipal Code's public-disturbance noise provisions, which treat amplified sound that is plainly audible at a neighboring property line, or which exceeds the WAC 173-60-040 maximum environmental noise levels, as a civil infraction. The standard is content-neutral under Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015), 576 U.S. 155, and applies equally to live bands, recorded music, public-address systems, and outdoor speakers at the Toyota Center entertainment district.

Key details: Standard: Audible at property line / 50 ft from source in ROW. State Cap: WAC 173-60-040 EDNA dBA limits by source/receiver class. Nighttime Reduction: 10 dBA lower 10 p.m.-7 a.m. at residential receivers. Content Neutrality: Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015), 576 U.S. 155. Venues: Toyota Center / Three Rivers Convention Center under event-permit conditions.

Amplified-music violations are civil infractions enforceable by Kennewick Police, with fines set by the city's bail schedule. Active disturbances often trigger an officer warning followed by a citation on a repeat call within 24 hours. Permit-condition violations at venues like the Toyota Center may trigger event-permit revocation and city follow-up under KMC Title 5.

Aircraft Noise

Tri-Cities Airport (KPSC) is operated by the Port of Pasco and sits across the Columbia River in Franklin County, not Kennewick. Aircraft noise in Kennewick is comprehensively exempt from local and state environmental noise regulation under WAC 173-60-050(2), which excludes sounds originating from aircraft in flight and from flight operations at airports. Federal law (49 U.S.C. 47501 et seq.) and FAA Part 150 (14 C.F.R. Part 150) place noise compatibility planning under federal control, and field operations at PSC are managed by the Port of Pasco.

Key details: Airport: Tri-Cities Airport (KPSC) - Pasco, Franklin County. Operator: Port of Pasco. State Exemption: WAC 173-60-050(2) - aircraft in flight + flight operations. Federal Framework: FAA Part 150 (14 C.F.R. Part 150). Federal Statute: 49 U.S.C. 47521 et seq. (Airport Noise and Capacity Act).

Aircraft noise complaints are not enforceable by Kennewick. Complaints route to the Port of Pasco's airport administration as the airport sponsor and to the Federal Aviation Administration's regional office. Aircraft operators that violate FAA-approved Part 150 noise abatement procedures may face federal enforcement; the FAA holds exclusive authority over aircraft operations and noise emissions in flight.

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

Vehicle Noise

Motor vehicle noise on Kennewick streets is governed by the statewide motor vehicle noise performance standards in WAC Chapter 173-62, which set in-use sound limits measured at 50 feet (72 dBA for autos/light trucks at 45 mph or less, 78 dBA for motorcycles at the same speed), and by RCW 46.37.390, which requires every motor vehicle to be equipped with a muffler in good working order and bars amplified or modified exhaust systems. The Kennewick Municipal Code's public-disturbance provisions also reach loud vehicle stereos audible at 50 feet.

Key details: Auto/Light Truck Limit: 72 dBA at 50 ft, 45 mph or less (WAC 173-62-030). Motorcycle Limit: 78 dBA at 50 ft, 45 mph or less. Heavy Vehicle Limit: 86 dBA at 50 ft, 35 mph or less. Muffler Rule: RCW 46.37.390 - good working order, no cut-outs. Modification Exemption: Vehicles 25+ years old; sanctioned competition.

Vehicle-noise violations under WAC 173-62 and RCW 46.37.390 are traffic infractions enforced by Kennewick Police and the Washington State Patrol, with fines set by the standard infraction schedule. KMC public-disturbance noise violations for loud stereos are civil infractions enforceable by Kennewick Police. A driver cited for a muffler violation may be required to repair and present the vehicle for re-inspection.

Industrial Noise

Industrial-source noise crossing into Kennewick residential neighborhoods is capped by WAC 173-60-040 at 60 dBA during the day and 50 dBA between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. at any Class A (residential) receiving property. The cap applies to facilities along Kennewick's industrial corridors and to operations adjacent to residential subdivisions. The Department of Ecology under RCW 70A.20 supplies the enforcement framework; the Benton Clean Air Agency separately handles air emissions but not noise.

Key details: Industrial-to-Residential Daytime Cap: 60 dBA (Class C to Class A). Industrial-to-Residential Nighttime Cap: 50 dBA (10 p.m.-7 a.m.). Short-Exceedance Allowance: +5/+10/+15 dBA for 15/5/1.5 minutes per hour. State Enforcer: Washington Department of Ecology (RCW 70A.20). Local Backstop: Kennewick Municipal Code public-disturbance provisions.

Industrial-noise violations of WAC 173-60-040 caps are enforceable by the Washington Department of Ecology with notice-and-correction procedures and civil penalties under RCW 70A.20. Repeat or willful violations may trigger formal administrative orders. Local public-disturbance enforcement by Kennewick Code Enforcement operates independently as a civil-infraction backstop. Rail-operations noise is federally preempted by the ICC Termination Act of 1995, and Kennewick cannot enforce against in-yard rail activity.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Kennewick gives residents more room on noise ordinances. 2 of the 8 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

This guide is based on Kennewick's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.