Noise Ordinances in Evanston, IL (2026)
7 verified noise ordinances for Evanston, Illinois, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Evanston bars audible radios, TVs, phonographs and similar devices from running loud enough to be "plainly audible at a distance of fifty (50) feet" between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights, and between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, under City Code Section 9-5-20(G)(1). Hitting that threshold during quiet hours is treated as automatic, "prima facie," evidence of a violation.
Evanston Nighttime Quiet Hours Rule
Some RestrictionsEvanston City Code § 9-5-20(G)(1)
(G) Radios, Phonographs: 1. Time and Use Restrictions: ... The operation of any such set, instrument, phonograph, machine or device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. from Sunday evening through Friday morning, and between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. from Friday evening through Sunday morning and on those evenings preceding national holidays and legal school holidays enumerated in 105 I...
Construction Hours
Evanston limits building construction, demolition, and repair noise to 7am-9pm weekdays and 8am-5pm Saturdays, with an 80-decibel cap after hours absent a City permit.
Evanston Construction Noise Hours Limit
Some RestrictionsEvanston City Code § 9-5-20(C)
(C)Construction, Repair of Buildings: The creation (including excavating), demolition, alteration or repair of any building within the City, other than between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on weekdays, and 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, except in case of urgent necessity...any other construction noise which exceeds a decibel level of eighty (80) (measured from the property line f...
Barking Dogs
Evanston makes excessive, continuous or untimely barking a public nuisance under City Code Section 9-4-13, alongside chasing vehicles, molesting passersby and habitually attacking other animals. A violation carries the Chapter's general fine of $10.00 to $500.00 per offense, and the City's separate noise ordinance also reaches animals kept tied up or shut in that disturb neighbors.
Evanston Barking Dog Nuisance Rule
Some RestrictionsEvanston City Code § 9-4-13
All owners shall exercise proper care and control of their animals to prevent them from becoming a public nuisance. Excessive, continuous or untimely barking, molesting passersby, chasing vehicles, habitually attacking other domestic animals, trespassing upon school grounds or trespassing upon private property in such manner as to damage property, shall be deemed a nuisance.
Leaf Blower Rules
Evanston banned gasoline- and propane-powered leaf blowers outright after April 1, 2023, under City Code § 8-26-5; only electric blowers may run today, with no seasonal restriction. Section 8-26-6 further limits every leaf blower, electric or not, to set hours on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and bars use entirely on recognized City holidays.
Evanston Leaf Blower Hours and Gas Ban
Significant RestrictionsEvanston City Code § 8-26-5, § 8-26-6
The use of gasoline-powered or propane-powered leaf blowers is not permitted after April 1, 2023. Electric leaf blowers may continue to be used with no seasonal restrictions. The use of portable generators to power electric leaf blowers or to recharge leaf blower batteries is not permitted...Permitted hours for the use of any leaf blower shall be as follows: Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 9...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Evanston bars loudspeakers and amplifiers within 150 feet of residential property and restricts operating hours, and requires a City Manager permit for any outdoor amplified sound.
Evanston Amplified Sound Distance Limit
Significant RestrictionsEvanston City Code § 9-5-20(F)
2.Location Within One Hundred Fifty Feet of Residentially Zoned Property: The operating of, or permitting to be operated, any receiving set, phonograph, loudspeaker, sound amplifier, paging system or other machine or device...in such a manner that distinct and loudly audible noises are emitted upon or proximate to a public way, which public way is within one hundred fifty (150) feet of property...
Decibel Limits
Evanston caps construction noise at 80 decibels measured from the property line during restricted evening and weekend hours, on top of the standard 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. building-work window.
Evanston Construction Noise Decibel Limits
Some RestrictionsEvanston City Code § 9-5-20(C)
any other construction noise which exceeds a decibel level of eighty (80) (measured from the property line from which the noise is emanating) is prohibited between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. weekdays, between 6:00 p.m. Friday and 8:00 a.m. Saturday, and between 5:00 p.m. Saturday and 7:00 a.m. Monday unless special permission is granted by the City Manager or his/her designee.
Vehicle Noise
Evanston bans playing a car radio, tape deck or other audio device loud enough to be audible to a person of normal hearing 75 feet away on any city street, under City Code Section 9-5-20(A)(5)(a). The rule exempts emergency vehicles and anyone operating under a valid City noise permit, and a first conviction draws a fine between $100 and $500, rising with repeat offenses within a year.
Evanston Vehicle Audio System Noise Limit
Some RestrictionsEvanston City Code § 9-5-20(A)(5)(a)
5.Audio Systems:a.No person shall play, use, operate or permit to be played, used or operated, any radio, tape recorder, cassette player, or other device for receiving broadcast or reproducing recorded sound if the device is located in any motor vehicle on a "street", as defined in Section 1-3-2 of this Code, and if the sound generated by the device is audible to a person, including, but not li...
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