Noblesville's Noise Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles noise ordinances a little differently. In Noblesville, Indiana, there are 9 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.

Barking Dogs

Noblesville Code §90.31 'Noisy Dogs' (Title IX, Ch. 90, Animals) makes it unlawful to allow the continuous barking, yelping, whining, or howling of a dog. The Noblesville Police Department may issue a citation or impound the animal if no owner can be found at the time of the disturbance. Animal field response is coordinated with Hamilton County animal control.

Key details: Code Section: Title IX, Ch. 90, §90.31 (Noisy Dogs) + §90.03 (Owner Duties). Standard: 'Continuous barking, yelping, whining, or howling'. Enforcement: Citation or impoundment by Noblesville Police. County Layer: Hamilton County Title 15 Animal Ordinance (Amended Ord. 08-12-19-A). Backstop Noise Rule: §93.25 (11 p.m. - 7 a.m. quiet hours).

§90.31 noisy-dog violations may be enforced by citation through the Hamilton Superior Court ordinance-violation docket, or by impoundment if no owner is present at the scene. Concurrent §93.25 'unnecessary noise' citations carry the March 2021 fine schedule (up to $250 residential / $500 commercial-industrial first offense; second-offense doubles). Pattern offenders may face escalated penalties and additional Title IX, Ch. 90 enforcement (animal removal). Report to Noblesville Police 317-776-6340.

Amplified Music & Events

Amplified music in Noblesville is regulated by two parallel ordinance frameworks. The city-wide rule is §93.25 (Title IX, Ch. 93) - operation of any radio, TV, loudspeaker, amplifier, or musical instrument is prohibited between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. A second, more detailed framework (§§93.20-93.24, adopted by Ordinance 40-5-03) applies only inside the legal-description property area that covers the Ruoff Music Center (formerly Klipsch/Verizon Wireless) amphitheater. Show curfew at Ruoff is 11:00 p.m. by ordinance.

Key details: City-Wide Code: Title IX, Ch. 93, §93.25. Ruoff-Specific Code: §§93.20-93.24 (Ord. 40-5-03 property area). Quiet Hours: 11:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m.. Ruoff Show Curfew: 11:00 p.m. by ordinance. Ruoff Decibel Threshold: 75 dB/A (>2 min/hr at 1/2-mile boundary); 25 dB/A above ambient at property line 11p-7a.

City-wide §93.25 violation (amplified sound between 11 p.m. - 7 a.m.): up to $250 in residential districts / $500 in commercial-industrial first offense; doubles on second offense within two years. Ruoff-area §§93.22-93.24 violations follow the same fine schedule but are measured against the dB/A thresholds. IC 35-45-1-3 'unreasonable noise' disorderly conduct is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 180 days jail / $1,000 fine). Report active amplified-music disturbances to Noblesville Police 317-776-6340.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Noblesville actively enforces its amplified music & events requirements.

Construction Hours

Noblesville restricts construction equipment, lawn mowers, garden tractors, leaf blowers, weed trimmers, and power tools to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week, under Title IX (General Regulations), Chapter 93 (Nuisances), §93.25 of the Noblesville Code of Ordinances. Operation outside that window is enforceable as a noise violation.

Key details: Allowed Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., seven days a week. Covered Equipment: Lawn mowers, garden tractors, leaf blowers, weed trimmers, construction equipment, power tools. Code Section: Title IX, Ch. 93, §93.25 (Other Noise Regulations). Muffler Required: Equipment must be 'properly muffled' to qualify for daytime exemption. Reporting: Noblesville Police non-emergency 317-776-6340.

Construction or power-equipment operation outside the 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. window is enforceable as a §93.25 noise violation. Per the March 2021 amendment, first-offense fines are up to $250 in residential districts and up to $500 in commercial/industrial districts; second offense within two years up to $500 residential / $1,000 commercial-industrial. Indiana IC 35-45-1-3 'unreasonable noise' disorderly conduct (Class B misdemeanor) can also be charged. Report to Noblesville Police 317-776-6340.

Industrial Noise

Industrial and commercial noise from Noblesville's manufacturing and commercial zoning districts is regulated by Noblesville Unified Development Ordinance §159.203 (Title XV, Ch. 159, Environmental Performance Standards). The UDO sets dB(A) caps by zoning district and time of day, measured at the receiving property line, and applies the more restrictive district's limit when noise crosses a district boundary. The general §93.25 noise rule operates as a secondary backstop.

Key details: Primary Code: Title XV, Ch. 159, §159.203 (Environmental Performance Standards). Industrial Day/Night: 65 dB(A) / 60 dB(A) at property line. Commercial Day/Night: 60 dB(A) / 50 dB(A) at property line. Residential Day/Night: 55 dB(A) / 45 dB(A) at property line. Cross-District Rule: More restrictive district's limit applies.

UDO §159.203 violations are enforced by the Planning & Development Department (317-776-6325) through the UDO enforcement mechanism, including stop-work orders and Plan Commission referral. Concurrent §93.25 'unnecessary noise' citations carry the March 2021 fine schedule (up to $250 residential / $500 commercial-industrial first offense; up to $500 / $1,000 second offense). IC 35-45-1-3 'unreasonable noise' disorderly conduct (Class B misdemeanor) may also apply. Report active noise to Noblesville Police 317-776-6340.

Outdoor Music

Outdoor music in Noblesville is regulated by a two-track framework. City-wide, §93.25 (Title IX, Ch. 93) prohibits operation of any sound-producing or amplifying device audible across a property line between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Inside the Ruoff Music Center property area, §§93.20-93.24 (Ord. 40-5-03) impose detailed dB(A) thresholds. Ruoff's show curfew is 11:00 p.m. by ordinance. The Noblesville Common Council unanimously amended the noise ordinance in March 2021 to restructure fines.

Key details: Ruoff Show Curfew: 11:00 p.m. by ordinance. Ruoff Property Area Rule: §§93.20-93.24 (Ord. 40-5-03). Ruoff dB(A) Threshold: 75 dB(A) >2 min/hr at 1/2-mile boundary. City-Wide Rule: §93.25 - no amplified sound 11 p.m. - 7 a.m.. Fine Schedule: $250-$500 first offense; $500-$1,000 second offense (residential/commercial).

City-wide §93.25 violations: up to $250 in Residential Districts and all other districts / $500 in Commercial or Industrial Districts first offense; second offense within two years up to $500 / $1,000. Ruoff-area §§93.20-93.24 violations follow the same fine schedule but are measured against the published dB(A) thresholds. IC 35-45-1-3 Class B misdemeanor disorderly conduct may apply. Noblesville Police 317-776-6340 is the enforcing agency.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Noblesville actively enforces its outdoor music requirements.

Quiet Hours

Noblesville's general noise/quiet-hours rule lives in Title IX (General Regulations), Chapter 93 (Nuisances), §93.25 'Other Noise Regulations' of the Noblesville Code of Ordinances. It is unlawful to play, use, or operate any radio, television, digital media player, loudspeaker, sound amplifier, musical instrument, or other sound-producing or amplifying machine or device between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Indiana state law (IC 35-45-1-3) also makes 'unreasonable noise' that continues after being asked to stop a Class B misdemeanor.

Key details: Code Section: Title IX, Ch. 93, §93.25 (Other Noise Regulations). Quiet Hours: 11:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m.. Prohibited During Quiet Hours: Radio, TV, loudspeaker, amplifier, musical instrument, sound-producing device. Residential First Fine: Up to $250. Commercial/Industrial First Fine: Up to $500.

Per the March 2021 amendment: first offense up to $500 in a Commercial or Industrial District; up to $250 in a Residential District and all other districts. Second offense within two years: up to $1,000 in a Commercial or Industrial District; up to $500 in a Residential District. Indiana state-law disorderly conduct via 'unreasonable noise' (IC 35-45-1-3) is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 180 days jail / $1,000 fine). Report active noise to Noblesville Police non-emergency 317-776-6340.

Aircraft Noise

Aircraft-in-flight noise is preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration. The City of Noblesville does not operate an airport and does not regulate aircraft noise. The closest general-aviation facility is Indianapolis Executive Airport (KTYQ) in Zionsville (Hamilton/Boone County line), operated by the Hamilton County Airport Authority. Indianapolis International Airport (KIND) is approximately 35 miles southwest.

Key details: Local Aircraft-Noise Rule: None - federally preempted (FAA). Nearest GA Airport: Indianapolis Executive (KTYQ), Zionsville. Nearest Commercial Airport: Indianapolis International (KIND), ~35 miles SW. KTYQ Operator: Hamilton County Airport Authority. Noblesville UDO Airport Overlay: None codified.

No city-issued noise citation is possible for in-flight aircraft (federally preempted). Aircraft noise complaints route to the Hamilton County Airport Authority (for KTYQ) or to the FAA. The federal mechanism for community-wide aircraft noise assessment and potential mitigation funding is the FAA Part 150 noise compatibility study process. The Noblesville Police Department (317-776-6340) has no jurisdiction over in-flight aircraft.

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

Leaf Blower Rules

Leaf blowers, weed trimmers, lawn mowers, and similar power lawn equipment are expressly addressed in Noblesville Code §93.25 (Title IX, Ch. 93). They may be operated only between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., seven days a week, and only when 'properly muffled.' There is no codified gas-blower ban and no separate decibel cap, but operation outside the 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. window is enforceable as a noise violation.

Key details: Code Section: Title IX, Ch. 93, §93.25 (Other Noise Regulations). Allowed Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., seven days a week. Muffler Required: Yes - 'properly muffled' equipment only. Gas Blower Ban: None - gas-powered blowers allowed. Decibel Cap: None for residential equipment.

Leaf blower or power equipment operation before 7 a.m. or after 10 p.m. is enforceable as a §93.25 violation. Per the March 2021 amendment, fines run up to $250 residential / $500 commercial-industrial first offense; second offense within two years up to $500 / $1,000. HOA covenant violations are civil and enforced by the association. Report disruptive use to Noblesville Police non-emergency 317-776-6340.

Decibel Limits

Noblesville publishes numeric dB(A) caps at the property line through Unified Development Ordinance §159.203 (Title XV, Ch. 159): roughly 65 dB(A) day / 60 dB(A) night for Industrial, 60 / 50 for Commercial, and 55 / 45 for Residential and all other districts. A single 10 dB brief excursion of up to 15 minutes per day is allowed. The Ruoff Music Center area has its own §§93.22-93.24 thresholds (75 dB/A measured at one-half mile from the boundary, etc.).

Key details: UDO Industrial Cap: ~65 dB(A) day / 60 dB(A) night at property line. UDO Commercial Cap: ~60 dB(A) day / 50 dB(A) night at property line. UDO Residential Cap: ~55 dB(A) day / 45 dB(A) night at property line. Brief Excursion: +10 dB, single period, max 15 min/day. Ruoff Area Cap: 75 dB(A) >2 min/hr at 1/2-mile boundary.

UDO §159.203 violations are enforced through Planning & Development (317-776-6325) and the UDO enforcement mechanism. §93.25 / §§93.20-93.24 violations follow the March 2021 fine schedule: up to $250 residential / $500 commercial-industrial first offense; up to $500 / $1,000 second offense within two years. IC 35-45-1-3 Class B misdemeanor disorderly conduct can also be charged. Report active disturbances to Noblesville Police 317-776-6340.

The Bottom Line

Noblesville is tougher than many cities when it comes to noise ordinances. Out of the 9 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Noblesville, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Noblesville's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.