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Noise Ordinances in Bloomington, IN (2026)

5 verified noise ordinances for Bloomington, Indiana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Construction Hours

In the City of Bloomington, ordinary construction noise is exempt from the noise ordinance only between six a.m. and ten p.m. on non-Sundays and non-holidays, under Bloomington Municipal Code § 14.09.040(b)(1). Pile drivers, steam shovels, and pneumatic hammers get a narrower window of seven a.m. to eight p.m. under § 14.09.040(b)(2), and equipment must run with the manufacturer's mufflers in place.

Construction Noise Hours in the City of Bloomington

Some Restrictions

Bloomington Municipal Code § 14.09.040(b)

(b)Construction operations for which building permits have been issued or construction operations for which a permit is not required shall be exempt from the noise control ordinance under the following conditions and with the following exceptions:(1)Such operations that occur after six a.m. and before ten p.m., except on Sundays and holidays, as defined in Section 14.09.020. However, in recogni...

Barking Dogs

In the City of Bloomington, a dog or other animal that barks, whines or howls excessively or continuously is legally a public nuisance, and its owner, guardian or colony caretaker must exercise due care to stop it. Bloomington Animal Care and Control enforces the rule and can fine the responsible party fifty dollars for a first offense.

Bloomington Bars Excessive Dog Barking as Nuisance

Some Restrictions

Bloomington Municipal Code § 7.01.010; § 7.28.010

"Public nuisance" means any animal that: (1)Molest passersby or passing vehicles;(2)Attack persons or other animals;(3)Damage public property or private property;(4)Bark, whine or howl in an excessive or continuous fashion;(5)Defecate on public or private property, other than the owner/guardian's/harborer's/colony caretaker's property, unless the waste is immediately removed and disposed of in ...

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

In the City of Bloomington, playing a radio, loudspeaker, or sound amplifier so it's audible outside the immediate premises for fifteen minutes or more is a violation of Bloomington Municipal Code § 14.09.030(c)(4). Between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., sound merely audible from off the property is prima facie evidence of a violation, and the Bloomington Police Department can issue a written finding carrying an escalating fine.

Amplified Sound Rules in the City of Bloomington

Some Restrictions

Bloomington Municipal Code § 14.09.030(c)(4)

(4)It shall be a violation of this chapter to play, use, operate or allow to be played, used, or operated any radio, television, digital media player, loudspeaker, sound amplifier, musical instrument, or any other machine or device for producing or reproducing sound in such a manner that the sound produced persists continuously or intermittently for a period of at least fifteen minutes and can ...

Aircraft Noise

In the City of Bloomington, aircraft noise is exempt from the local noise ordinance entirely: Bloomington Municipal Code § 14.09.040(g) excuses any aircraft operating under federal law, federal air regulations, and air traffic control instructions. Aircraft in genuine distress, under emergency air-traffic-control orders, or operating under a declared federal air emergency stay exempt too, leaving aircraft noise regulation to the FAA rather than the city.

Aircraft Noise Exemption in the City of Bloomington

Few Restrictions

Bloomington Municipal Code § 14.09.040(g)

(g)Any aircraft operated in conformity with, or pursuant to, federal law, federal air regulations, and air traffic control and instructions and pursuant to and within the duly adopted federal air regulations. Any aircraft operating under technical difficulties in any kind of distress, under emergency orders of air traffic control or being operated pursuant to and subsequent to the declaration o...

Vehicle Noise

In the City of Bloomington, driving with a cut-out or removed muffler is a violation of Bloomington Municipal Code § 14.09.030(c)(1), and playing a car stereo loud enough to be clearly audible thirty feet from the vehicle is prima facie evidence of a violation under § 14.09.030(c)(3). The Bloomington Police Department enforces both, with fines starting at fifty dollars and climbing for repeat offenses.

Vehicle Muffler and Stereo Noise Rules in Bloomington

Some Restrictions

Bloomington Municipal Code § 14.09.030(c)(1),(3)

(1)It shall be a violation of this chapter to operate a motor vehicle with an internal combustion, steam or air motor unless the motor vehicle is equipped with a suitable and efficient muffler or baffle. A muffler or baffle shall be considered suitable and efficient, for purposes of this chapter, when the vehicle does not create unreasonable noise. ... no person while on a public or private hig...