Taunton's Noise Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles noise ordinances a little differently. In Taunton, Massachusetts, 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.

Construction Hours

Taunton limits building construction, demolition, alteration and excavation noise to the hours between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Work outside that window needs an emergency permit from the Building Commissioner, issued only where urgent public health or safety needs require it, and violations carry escalating fines up to $300 per offense.

Key details: Permitted hours: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.. Emergency permit: 3 days, renewable, from Building Commissioner. First offense fine: Up to $100. Repeat offense fine: Up to $300. Enforcement: Police Chief, Building Commissioner, Health Director.

Under Section 315-9, a first violation of the construction-hours limit draws a fine of up to $100, a second offense up to $200, and a third or later offense up to $300, with each occurrence charged as a separate offense. A licensee who racks up a third violation also loses the automatic renewal of any municipal license tied to the work. The Police Chief, Building Commissioner and Director of Public Health, or their designees, are the named enforcement officers under Section 315-11.

Vehicle Noise

Taunton bars unnecessary horn use, sirens on non-emergency vehicles, and any automobile or motorcycle so out of repair, overloaded or operated that it causes loud grating, grinding or rattling noise. Violations of the Noise Ordinance draw fines starting at $100 for a first offense and rising to $300 for repeat violations.

Key details: Horn use: Limited to danger warnings only. Sirens: Authorized emergency vehicles only. Defective vehicle noise: Grating, grinding, rattling noise barred. Repair shop noise: Audible 50 ft from lot line barred. Fine: $100 to $300 by offense number.

Section 315-9 punishes any Chapter 315 violation, including unlawful horn use or a noisy, defective vehicle, with a fine of up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second and $300 for a third or later offense, with each occurrence a separate offense. A third violation also blocks automatic renewal of any municipal license the violator holds.

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

Taunton bars playing a radio, television, phonograph or other sound-producing device loudly enough to disturb neighbors, or louder than needed for voluntary listeners to hear it comfortably. Running such a device between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in a way that disturbs a normal person at the property line is automatic evidence of a violation.

Key details: Covered devices: Radios, TVs, phonographs, musical instruments. Nighttime presumption: 10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m. at property line. Standard: Louder than needed for voluntary listeners. Fine: $100 to $300 by offense number. Exemptions: Permitted school, park and licensed events.

A Section 315-2.C(2) violation is punished under the Chapter 315 fine schedule in Section 315-9: up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second, and $300 for a third or later offense, each occurrence charged separately. The Police Chief, Building Commissioner and Director of Public Health, or their designees, are authorized to enforce it under Section 315-11.

Barking Dogs

Taunton's noise ordinance Chapter 315 prohibits keeping any animal or bird that causes frequent or long-continued sounds plainly audible within a noise-sensitive zone or at 50 feet from the lot line. Violations are fined up to $100 for the first offense, escalating to $300.

Key details: Standard: Audible 50 ft from lot line. Code: Chapter 315 + Ch. 191 Animals. Fine (1st): Up to $100. Enforcement: Police / Animal Control / Board of Health.

Decibel Limits

Taunton caps outdoor sound under Chapter 315 with a decibel table keyed to time of day and district: up to 75 db in residential areas on early evenings, tightening to 40 db in other districts overnight for sounds lasting over two hours. The Police Chief, Building Commissioner and Director of Public Health enforce it citywide.

Key details: Governing chapter: Taunton Code Chapter 315, Noise. Evening residential cap (under 10 min): 75 db, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.. Overnight residential limit (over 2 hrs): 50 db, 10 p.m.-7 a.m.. Non-residential overnight cap (over 2 hrs): 40 db. First-offense fine: $100.

A first violation of Chapter 315 carries a fine of up to $100, a second offense up to $200, and each subsequent offense up to $300 under § 315-9. After a third offense, any municipal license held by the violator does not automatically renew. Each separate occurrence is treated as a distinct offense, and the City may still pursue nuisance abatement remedies under § 315-10 in addition to the fine.

Quiet Hours

Taunton adopted a comprehensive noise ordinance (Chapter 315) on November 2, 2021, prohibiting preventable and unnecessary noise. Noise that annoys or disturbs the quiet, comfort, or repose of normal persons is prohibited at any time or place. Animals or birds plainly audible at 50 feet from the lot line are also prohibited.

Key details: Code: Chapter 315 (adopted 11-2-2021). Animal Noise: Prohibited if audible 50 ft from lot line. Fine (1st): Up to $100. Fine (3rd+): $300 + no auto license renewal.

First offense: up to $100. Second offense: $200. Each subsequent offense: $300. After the third offense, no automatic renewal of municipal license. Each occurrence is a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

Taunton'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 Taunton is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Taunton 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.