New Orleans's Noise Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles noise ordinances a little differently. In New Orleans, Louisiana, 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.

Vehicle Noise

New Orleans bans altered mufflers and exhaust systems that push a vehicle's noise past set decibel limits, and it caps moving-vehicle sound at 76 to 90 dBA depending on weight and speed. The Department of Health and Police Department jointly enforce the standard, and motorcycle mufflers carry an added $50.00 fine under the traffic fine schedule.

Key details: Moving-vehicle limit, light vehicle: 76 dBA (40 mph or less). Moving-vehicle limit, heavy vehicle: 86 dBA (40 mph or less). Static test limit, light vehicle: 95 dBA at 20 inches. Motorcycle exhaust fine (§ 154-177): $50.00 first offense. General penalty if unspecified (§ 1-13): up to $1,000/$2,000.

A general noise-article violation with no specific fine listed falls under the citywide general penalty at § 1-13: up to $1,000.00 or six months for a first offense, up to $2,000.00 or six months for a second or later offense, or the maximum state-law penalty if greater. The traffic fine schedule at § 154-177 separately sets a $50.00 first-offense fine for 'Malfunctioning exhaust' and for 'Muffler and exhaust system requirements for motorcycles and motor-driven cycles.'

Barking Dogs

New Orleans bans owners or keepers from letting an animal or fowl make frequent or continuing noise that disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivity. Fines escalate $50, $150, then $300 or up to 90 days, and repeat violators must attend SPCA obedience classes.

Key details: Standard: Frequent or continuing noise disturbing a reasonable person. 1st offense fine: $50.00. 2nd offense fine: $150.00. 3rd+ offense: $300 fine or up to 90 days jail. Mandatory remedy: SPCA obedience training class enrollment.

First offense: $50 fine. Second offense: $150 fine. Third or subsequent offense: $300 fine, up to 90 days imprisonment, or both. Every convicted owner must also enroll in SPCA-sponsored (or equivalent) animal obedience training under Sec. 66-204(4).

Aircraft Noise

New Orleans bars operating, running or testing an aircraft engine that creates noise exceeding the Table 1 land-use limits anywhere within an inhabited zone of the city. The rule targets ground testing, maintenance and repair; aircraft actually landing, taking off or taxiing at an airport are exempt.

Key details: Scope: Operating, running or testing aircraft engines. Limit applied: Table 1 of receiving land use category. Measured where: Any place within an inhabited zone of the city. Airport exemption: Landing, takeoff, ground movement at an airport. Penalty: Misdemeanor, fine + up to 90 days (Sec. 66-140).

Running, testing or operating an aircraft engine (outside the landing/takeoff/ground-movement-at-an-airport exemption) above Table 1's land-use limits is a Sec. 66-140 misdemeanor, fine up to the state-law maximum, up to 90 days imprisonment, or both, each day a separate offense, with Sec. 66-141 injunctive abatement also available.

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

New Orleans bars playing radios, musical instruments or loudspeakers plainly audible to others in parks, playgrounds or recreation areas between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. unless a permit has been issued. The same public-space devices also can't exceed 80 dBA at 50 feet at any hour.

Key details: Curfew: 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. in parks/playgrounds. Exception: Permitted activity under Sec. 66-176. Permit fee: $20.00. Daytime volume cap (separate rule): 80 dBA at 50 ft, Sec. 66-203(3)a. City-sponsored concerts: Exempt under Sec. 66-139(1).

Playing music in a park, playground or recreation area between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. without a permit violates Sec. 66-203(3)b and is a misdemeanor under Sec. 66-140: fine up to the state-law maximum, up to 90 days imprisonment, or both, each day a separate offense.

Construction Hours

New Orleans exempts permitted construction and demolition noise from Table 1 limits between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., but in RS, RD or RM residential districts (or within 300 feet of one) work can't start before 7 a.m. or run past 6 p.m., and mufflers on equipment must be maintained.

Key details: Citywide exempt hours: 7:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m., with permit. Residential-district hours: 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.. Residential buffer: Within 300 feet of RS/RD/RM zone. Equipment duty: Mufflers must be maintained. Pile driving special zone: 3-11 p.m. weekdays / 8 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends.

Construction or demolition noise outside the exempted hours, before 7 a.m. or after 6 p.m. in/near RS, RD or RM residential districts, or without the required building permit, reverts to Sec. 66-203 nuisance-noise enforcement and the Sec. 66-140 misdemeanor penalty: fine up to the state-law maximum, up to 90 days imprisonment, or both, each day separate.

Leaf Blower Rules

Outdoor power equipment (including leaf blowers) may not run in residential zones between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. weekdays (8:00 a.m. weekends); small units are capped at 75 dBA and larger ones at 82 dBA at 50 feet during daytime.

Key details: Weekday off-hours: 10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.. Weekend off-hours: 10:00 p.m.-8:00 a.m.. Small units (<=5 hp): 75 dBA at 50 feet. Larger units (>5 hp): 82 dBA at 50 feet. Code section: Sec. 66-203(6).

Misdemeanor under Sec. 66-140: fine up to the state maximum and/or up to 90 days jail; each day a separate offense.

Decibel Limits

New Orleans caps ambient noise by zone and time of day under City Code § 66-202's Table 1: residential areas can't exceed 60 dBA (L10) / 70 dBA (Lmax) by day, dropping to 55/60 dBA overnight; commercial areas run 65/75 dBA by day and 60/65 dBA at night; and industrial zones are capped at 75/85 dBA around the clock, measured at the property boundary.

Key details: Residential day cap: 60 dBA (L10) / 70 dBA (Lmax). Residential night cap: 55 dBA (L10) / 60 dBA (Lmax). Commercial day cap: 65 dBA (L10) / 75 dBA (Lmax). Industrial cap (24/7): 75 dBA (L10) / 85 dBA (Lmax). Night hours: 10 p.m.–7 a.m. weekdays.

Exceeding Table 1's dBA limits for the applicable land use and time period is a misdemeanor under §66-140, punishable by a fine up to the applicable state-law cap, imprisonment up to 90 days, or both, with each day of continued exceedance treated as a separate offense. The department of health may also seek a restraining order or injunction under §66-141 to stop an ongoing violation.

Quiet Hours

New Orleans bars audible sound equipment near residential property between 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 10 a.m., and between 10:30 p.m. Friday/Saturday and 10 a.m. The test is whether the sound is plainly audible one foot past the neighboring dwelling's wall or the lot line.

Key details: Weeknight curfew: 9:00 p.m. Sun-Thu to 10:00 a.m.. Weekend curfew: 10:30 p.m. Fri/Sat to 10:00 a.m.. Test: Plainly audible at 1 ft past neighbor's wall or lot line. Multi-unit test: Audible within another unit in same building. Penalty: Misdemeanor, fine + up to 90 days (Sec. 66-140).

Violation is a misdemeanor under Sec. 66-140: fine up to the state-law maximum, up to 90 days imprisonment, or both, with each day of continued noise a separate offense; Sec. 66-141 also allows injunctive abatement through the courts.

The Bottom Line

New Orleans'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 New Orleans is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects New Orleans's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.