Noise Ordinances in Bellingham, WA (2026)
9 verified noise ordinances for Bellingham, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Bellingham regulates noise under BMC 10.24.120 (Public Disturbance Noise) within BMC Chapter 10.24 (Offenses Against Public Order). The city's stated policy is to minimize residents' exposure to excessive noise. BMC 10.24.120 does not publish a single clock-time 'quiet hours' window for all noise, but it specifically bars construction and industrial noise in residential zones between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Amplified music must end before 10:00 p.m. citywide, except inside the Downtown Entertainment District and the Fairhaven Entertainment District, where amplification is allowed until 11:00 p.m. WAC 173-60-040 supplies the receiving-property numeric backstop: Class A residential 55 dBA day / 45 dBA night.
Bellingham Quiet Hours and Public Disturbance Noise
Some RestrictionsConstruction Hours
BMC 10.24.120 prohibits 'construction and industrial noises, including motorized construction and equipment operation, hammering, blasting, drilling and sawing' in residentially zoned areas between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. - giving Bellingham a codified 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. construction window in residential zones. Daytime construction outside that window can still be cited under the BMC 10.24.120 reasonableness standard if it constitutes a public disturbance noise.
Bellingham Construction Hours
Some RestrictionsBarking Dogs
Bellingham codifies barking-dog enforcement in BMC Title 7 (Animals) - specifically the BMC 7.04.030 definition of 'barking dog' (any dog which by frequent or habitual howling, yelping, or barking unreasonably annoys or disturbs other persons in the vicinity) with infraction penalties at BMC 7.08.110. Animal noise is also enforceable as a BMC 10.24.120 public disturbance noise. The Whatcom Humane Society holds the city animal-control contract and fields complaints.
Bellingham Barking Dogs and Animal Noise
Some RestrictionsLeaf Blower Rules
Bellingham does not publish a leaf-blower-specific ordinance. Gas-powered and electric leaf-blower use is governed by the general BMC 10.24.120 public-disturbance-noise standard and, by reference, WAC 173-60-040 Class A residential receiving-property caps (55 dBA day / 45 dBA night). Washington has not preempted local leaf-blower regulation, and Bellingham has not adopted a gas-blower ban, registration program, or day-of-week / time-of-day restriction beyond the general public disturbance standard.
Bellingham Leaf Blower Rules
Few RestrictionsAmplified Music & Events
BMC 10.24.120 specifically regulates amplified music: it must end before 10:00 p.m. citywide, except inside the Downtown Entertainment District (depicted in Figure 10.24.120(A)) and the Fairhaven Entertainment District (Figure 10.24.120(B)), where amplification is allowed until 11:00 p.m. (the downtown waterfront district shares the 11 p.m. allowance). Both districts include both sides of the perimeter streets. The 2010-2011 entertainment-district overlay was designed to protect downtown music venues and restaurants while still shielding nearby residents.
Bellingham Amplified Music and Entertainment Districts
Some RestrictionsAircraft Noise
Aircraft-in-flight noise is preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration under the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990. Bellingham International Airport (KBLI / BLI) is owned and operated by the Port of Bellingham and located in northwest Bellingham. BMC 10.24.120 does not regulate aircraft noise, and WAC 173-60-050 expressly exempts aircraft in flight and airport operations from state environmental noise levels. The Port of Bellingham administers a published Noise Abatement program with VFR and IFR procedures for arrivals and departures.
Bellingham Aircraft Noise (Bellingham International Airport KBLI)
Few RestrictionsIndustrial Noise
Industrial noise in Bellingham is regulated under BMC 10.24.120 (public disturbance noise) layered with WAC 173-60-040 Class C (industrial) source-to-receiving-class dBA matrix: industrial sources capped at 70 dBA when received at another Class C parcel, 65 dBA at a Class B (commercial) parcel, and 60 dBA at a Class A (residential) parcel, with the 10 dBA Class A nighttime reduction between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Active industrial concentrations include the BNSF / Burlington Northern rail corridor, the Port of Bellingham waterfront, and the former Georgia-Pacific mill site now under Waterfront District redevelopment.
Bellingham Industrial Noise
Some RestrictionsDecibel Limits
BMC 10.24.120 does not codify a numeric dBA cap for general noise - it operates on a 'public disturbance noise' reasonableness standard supported by enumerated examples (50-foot audibility for portable audio, 10 p.m. - 7 a.m. residential construction bar, 10 p.m. / 11 p.m. amplified music cutoffs). Numeric receiving-property caps come from WAC 173-60-040 - the statewide Maximum Environmental Noise Levels - imposing the 55/57/60 / 60/65/70 dBA source-to-receiving matrix with a 10 dBA Class A nighttime reduction. Bellingham layers BMC 11.15.400 (50-foot audibility cap for vehicle audio) on the motor-vehicle side.
Bellingham Decibel Limits
Some RestrictionsOutdoor Music
Outdoor music in Bellingham is governed by BMC 10.24.120 (citywide amplified music cutoff at 10:00 p.m., with the 11:00 p.m. extension inside the Downtown Entertainment District, Fairhaven Entertainment District, and downtown waterfront district). Permitted special events (Downtown Sounds, SeaFeast, Bayfront Block Party, the Northwest Tune-Up Festival, Bellingham Festival of Music) operate under city special-event permits that can override the general cutoffs. BMC 10.24.120(A) (musical instruments / band sessions from any building) and the portable-audio 50-foot rule apply at all hours.
Bellingham Outdoor Music and Downtown Events
Some RestrictionsLooking for Whatcom County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bellingham city rules.
Noise Ordinances in Whatcom County →