Miramar's Noise Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles noise ordinances a little differently. In Miramar, Florida, 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.

Decibel Limits

Within Miramar's Transit Oriented Corridor District (TOCD) along State Road 7, sound measured at the property line of a sound-generating property cannot exceed 70 decibels from sunrise to midnight or 60 decibels from midnight to sunrise, per Land Development Code Section 715.2.3.8. Screening and landscaping must also buffer noise. Outside the TOCD, Miramar's general noise code bars only 'unreasonably loud' noise, with no decibel figure.

Key details: Daytime limit: 70 decibels, sunrise to midnight, TOCD only. Nighttime limit: 60 decibels, midnight to sunrise, TOCD only. Measurement point: Property line of the sound-generating property. Zone covered: Transit Oriented Corridor District, State Road 7 corridor. Citywide fallback: No decibel number; qualitative 'unreasonably loud' standard.

Land Development Code violations, including noncompliance with the TOCD sound standard, are punishable under the city's general penalty, City Code Section 1-13: a fine up to $500.00, imprisonment up to 60 days, or both, with each day a violation continues treated as a separate offense. Other LDC provisions similarly cap standalone Code violations at a $500.00 fine plus prosecution costs. TOCD sound compliance is verified by the Development Review Committee before permits issue; complaints outside the TOCD are handled under the general noise sections, City Code Sections 10-115 through 10-117.

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

Playing a radio, speaker or musical instrument in Miramar so the sound reaches public streets or neighboring properties requires a city manager permit, and even permitted sound is capped to carry no more than 300 feet during two narrow midday and evening windows.

Key details: Permit required: City manager permit for audible radios/instruments. Allowed hours: 11:30am-1pm and 5-8pm only. Distance cap: Sound audible no more than 300 feet. Late-night ban: No loud instruments/radio 11pm-7am (§10-116). Default penalty: Up to $500 fine or 60 days jail (§1-13).

Operating a radio, speaker or musical instrument audible on public streets or by neighbors without a city manager permit, or exceeding the 300-foot audibility limit during the 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. windows, violates § 10-112 and is punishable under the general penalty of § 1-13: up to a $500 fine, up to 60 days imprisonment, or both, with each day a separate offense.

Aircraft Noise

Miramar requires a city manager permit before operating any loudspeaker or sound-broadcast device on an aircraft, wagon, truck or vehicle in city limits, and the manager can refuse the permit outright if it's against the public interest, under City Code § 10-111. It does not regulate aircraft engine or flyover noise, which is federally preempted.

Key details: Permit required: Broadcast devices on aircraft/vehicles (§ 10-111(a)). Issuing authority: City manager, discretionary denial. Scope: Broadcast/sound equipment only, not flight noise. Violation penalty: Up to $500 fine, 60 days jail. Permit conditions: Manager can revoke for violations (§ 10-111(b)).

Operating an unpermitted sound device on an aircraft or vehicle, or violating the conditions of a granted permit, is punishable under the general penalty in § 1-13: a fine up to $500, imprisonment up to 60 days, or both. A violating permit holder also risks the city manager revoking the permit outright under § 10-111(b).

Compared to other cities, Miramar takes a harder line on aircraft noise. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Barking Dogs

Letting a pet habitually bark, whine, howl, crow or cackle to the point it seriously annoys neighbors is a declared public nuisance under Miramar's animal code, enforceable the same way as other animal nuisance violations. The rule targets ongoing disturbance, not an occasional bark.

Key details: Covered noises: Habitual barking, whining, howling, crowing, cackling. Threshold: Serious annoyance or interference to neighboring residents. Legal status: Declared a public nuisance, Sec. 6-6(c)(1). Enforcement path: Code enforcement citation or special magistrate hearing. Extra remedy: City may pursue civil or criminal nuisance action.

A habitual-barking violation is enforced as a public nuisance under Chapter 2, Article XI (community standards and code enforcement), which can mean a civil citation or a hearing before the special magistrate; the city can additionally pursue civil or criminal action under Sec. 6-6(d) to abate the nuisance.

Vehicle Noise

Miramar law bans unnecessary vehicle horn honking, running a car so out of repair it grates or rattles loudly, and discharging engine exhaust without a working muffler, all listed as unlawful noise under City Code § 10-116(2), (6) and (8). Each is enforceable on its own, separate from the general noise ban.

Key details: Horn misuse: Banned except as danger signal (§ 10-116(2)). Out-of-repair vehicles: Loud rattling/grinding banned (§ 10-116(6)). Muffler: Required on engine exhaust (§ 10-116(8)). Proof standard: Conduct itself is the violation. Penalty: Up to $500 fine, 60 days jail (§ 1-13).

A violation of § 10-116(2), (6) or (8) is punishable under the Chapter 1 general penalty, § 1-13: a fine up to $500, imprisonment up to 60 days, or both. Officers can cite a vehicle for a defective muffler or excessive mechanical noise independent of any speeding or reckless-driving charge.

Quiet Hours

Miramar bans loud, disturbing and unnecessary noise citywide under City Code § 10-115, and singles out radios, TVs and yelling on public streets between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. as automatically unlawful under § 10-116 if they disturb neighbors. Violations carry up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail.

Key details: General ban: Unreasonably loud/disturbing noise (§ 10-115). Quiet hours: 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (§ 10-116(3)-(4)). Covers: Radios, TVs, instruments, yelling on streets. Exceptions: City work crews, emergencies, noncommercial speeches. Penalty: Up to $500 fine, 60 days jail (§ 1-13).

A quiet-hours violation under §§ 10-115 or 10-116 is punishable under the general penalty in § 1-13: a fine up to $500, imprisonment up to 60 days, or both, with each recurring disturbance treated as a separate offense the city can cite.

The Bottom Line

Miramar'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 Miramar is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Miramar 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.