Noise Ordinances in Fort Lauderdale, FL (2026)
7 verified noise ordinances for Fort Lauderdale, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Fort Lauderdale Code Chapter 17 (Noise Control) caps residential outdoor sound at 60 dBA / 70 dBC from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 50 dBA / 60 dBC from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. A 2024 amendment also bars non-amplified residential sound that is plainly audible 25 feet from the property line at night (50 feet by day).
Nighttime cap 50 dBA / 60 dBC residential, 10pm-7am
Some RestrictionsFort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances ch. 17, sec. 17-6 (Ord. C-08-37, July 15, 2008; amended Ord. C-24-, Nov. 19, 2024)
Sec. 17-6. - Maximum Permissible dBA Sound Levels. Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, it shall be unlawful, except as expressly permitted herein, to cause, allow, or permit the making of any sound which exceeds the limits set forth in this section. TABLE I MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE SOUND LEVEL LIMITS dBA and dBC. Residential, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.: Outdoor 60 dBA / 70 dBC*; Indoor...
Construction Hours
Section 17-7(4) makes it unlawful to operate construction, repair, alteration, or demolition equipment Monday through Saturday before 8:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m., or Sunday before 10:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. Permitted work within those hours is exempt under Section 17-8 if equipment uses original mufflers and noise-reducing gear.
Construction allowed Mon-Sat 8am-7pm, Sun 10am-7pm
Some RestrictionsFort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances ch. 17, sec. 17-7(4) (Ord. C-08-37; amended Ord. C-24-, Nov. 19, 2024)
4. Construction: a. No person shall operate or cause to be operated any equipment used in construction, repair, alteration or demolition work on buildings, structures, streets, alleys, or appurtenances thereto with sound-control devices less effective than those provided on the original equipment. b. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or cause to be operated equipment for the aforem...
Barking Dogs
Section 17-7(2) makes it unlawful to keep any domesticated animal whose vocalizing is plainly audible at the complainant's property line and continues more than five minutes without interruption (averaging four vocalizations per minute) or twice a minute for 20 consecutive minutes, unless the animal was unreasonably provoked.
Animal noise: barking plainly audible at property line is unlawful
Some RestrictionsFort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances ch. 17, sec. 17-7(2) (Ord. C-08-37; amended Ord. C-24-, Nov. 19, 2024)
2. Animals. Unless unreasonably provoked, it shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, possess or maintain any domesticated animal which vocalizes (howls, yelps, barks, squawks, or other noise) and the vocalizing is plainly audible at or within the property line of the complainant; and: a. The vocalizing is for more than five (5) minutes without interruptions, defined as an average of four...
Leaf Blower Rules
Fort Lauderdale regulates leaf blower and landscaping equipment noise through Chapter 17 construction and equipment hours. Power equipment operation is restricted to 8 AM-7 PM Monday-Saturday and 10 AM-7 PM on Sundays in residential areas.
Fort Lauderdale Leaf Blower Regulations
Some RestrictionsAmplified Music & Events
Section 17-7(1) bars amplified sound from residential property that is plainly audible for one minute or longer at 25 feet from the property line (10 p.m.-7 a.m.) or 50 feet (7 a.m.-10 p.m.). Commercial/mixed-use amplified sound is capped at 60 dBC (noon-10 p.m.) and 55 dBC (10 p.m.-noon) inside a complainant's premises.
Amplified sound: not plainly audible at 25 ft (night) / 50 ft (day)
Heavy RestrictionsFort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances ch. 17, sec. 17-7(1) (Ord. C-08-37; amended Ord. C-24-, Nov. 19, 2024)
Sec. 17-7. - Specific restrictions. 1. Amplified sound. No person shall cause, allow, or permit the operation of any amplified sound device from the following use districts or locations in the following manner: a. Residential use: i. Sound shall not be plainly audible for a period of one (1) minute or longer at a distance of twenty-five (25) feet or more when measured from the source property l...
Aircraft Noise
Fort Lauderdale Code Section 17-8(7) expressly exempts 'all noises coming from the normal operations of an aircraft' from the city noise ordinance. Aircraft noise is regulated federally under FAA 14 CFR Part 150, implemented locally through the FAA-approved Noise Compatibility Program for Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE).
Aircraft noise exempt locally; governed by FAA (14 CFR Part 150)
Few RestrictionsFort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances ch. 17, sec. 17-8(7) (Ord. C-08-37, July 15, 2008)
Sec. 17-8. - Exemptions. ... 7. All noises coming from the normal operations of an aircraft.
Industrial Noise
Fort Lauderdale regulates industrial and commercial noise through Chapter 17 Section 17-6 maximum permissible dBA sound levels. Commercial/industrial sources must not exceed specific dBC thresholds when measured at the complainant's premises.
Fort Lauderdale Industrial & Commercial Noise Limits
Some RestrictionsLooking for Broward County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fort Lauderdale city rules.
Noise Ordinances in Broward County →