Midwest City's Noise Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles noise ordinances a little differently. In Midwest City, Oklahoma, there are 7 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.

Decibel Limits

Midwest City caps stationary noise at 55 dBA daytime and 50 dBA nighttime in residential zones, 60/55 dBA in commercial areas, and 70 dBA in industrial or agricultural zones under Code § 26-6 and § 26-12, Table I.

Key details: Residential daytime limit: 55 dBA (7 a.m.–10 p.m.). Residential nighttime limit: 50 dBA (10 p.m.–7 a.m.). Commercial/Office limit: 60 dBA day / 55 dBA night. Industrial/Agricultural limit: 70 dBA, all hours. Impulsive sound sources: limit cut by 5 dBA.

A stationary-source violation is prosecutable in municipal court (§ 26-9); the enforcement officer may first issue a 24-hour abatement order, and each continuing day of disturbance is a separate offense (§ 26-10).

Quiet Hours

Midwest City caps residential sound at 50 dBA between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., five decibels below the daytime limit, under the city's noise ordinance enforced by police and municipal court.

Key details: Nighttime limit: 50 dBA, 10 p.m.–7 a.m., residential. Daytime limit: 55 dBA, 7 a.m.–10 p.m., residential. First step: 24-hour abatement order. Penalty forum: Midwest City Municipal Court.

Exceeding the Table I limit is a municipal offense; the enforcement officer typically issues a 24-hour abatement order first, then files a complaint in municipal court if it isn't fixed (§§ 26-6, 26-9, 26-10).

Aircraft Noise

New single-family homes built after November 25, 2010 inside Tinker AFB's DNL noise contours must meet strict sound insulation standards, capping average interior aircraft noise at 45 decibels under the city's Airport Zoning Ordinance.

Key details: Interior noise cap: 45 dB average, new homes. Applies to: New single-family homes after 11/25/2010. Noise zones: 65-70, 70-75, 75-80+ dB DNL. Penalty: Up to $500 fine, 1 year jail. Enacted: Ord. No. 3132, October 26, 2010.

Violating the Airport Zoning Ordinance is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine, up to one year in the county jail, or both, under Midwest City Code § 6.5.1.

Construction Hours

Midwest City caps construction, demolition and repair noise by zoning district and time of day, from 50 dBA in residential areas overnight up to 70 dBA in industrial zones, under the city's noise ordinance.

Key details: Residential daytime limit: 55 dBA, 7 a.m.–10 p.m.. Residential nighttime limit: 50 dBA, 10 p.m.–7 a.m.. Industrial/agricultural limit: 70 dBA, all hours. Construction/demolition permit length: Up to 30 days, renewable. Permit authority: City manager grants hardship permits.

Violating the noise chapter is an offense against the city under section 26-10. Each day of a continuous disturbance counts as a single offense, while separate incidents on the same day are each a separate offense.

Barking Dogs

Harboring a dog whose frequent or long-continued noise disturbs a neighbor's comfort or repose is unlawful in Midwest City, and any disturbed neighbor can file a complaint against the owner.

Key details: Governing section: Midwest City Code § 8-97. Standard: Frequent or long-continued disturbing noise. How enforced: Neighbor files a complaint. Max fine: $200 plus costs. Max jail: 30 days.

A violation is prosecuted under § 8-98, which applies the Code's general penalty at § 1-8: a fine up to $200 plus costs, up to 30 days imprisonment, or both. Each day the noise continues is a separate offense.

Vehicle Noise

Midwest City caps vehicle noise at 77-92 dBA measured at 25 feet, sets tougher limits for cars and motorcycles than heavy trucks, and requires every vehicle to run a working, unmodified muffler.

Key details: Cars & motorcycles: 77 dBA under 35 mph, 82 over. Heavy vehicles (10,000+ lb GVWR): 87 dBA under 35 mph, 92 over. Measurement point: 25 feet from nearest traffic lane. Muffler requirement: Working, defect-free, unmodified from factory. Governing section: § 26-6(c), Table II.

Violating the vehicle noise limits or muffler requirement is a municipal offense prosecuted in Midwest City Municipal Court. A continuous disturbance counts as one offense per day; a non-continuous disturbance is a separate offense each time it recurs, even on the same day.

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

Playing a radio, stereo, musical instrument or other sound device is a cited noise violation in Midwest City if it sits on a public right-of-way and can be heard fifty feet away, or through the closed doors and windows of a nearby vehicle.

Key details: Audibility threshold: 50 feet from right-of-way source. Residential daytime cap: 55 dBA, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.. Residential nighttime cap: 50 dBA, 10 p.m.-7 a.m.. Entertainment venue loudspeakers: warning sign required at 90 dBA. Enforcement: municipal court, § 26-10.

A § 26-4 violation is prosecuted as a municipal-court offense under § 26-10; a continuous disturbance is one offense per day, while non-continuous incidents each count as a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

Midwest City'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 Midwest City is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Midwest City 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.