Noise Ordinances in New Britain, CT (2026)
6 verified noise ordinances for New Britain, Connecticut, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
New Britain defines nighttime hours as 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (9:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. into Sunday) and cuts allowable noise sharply once they start. Sec. 16-105 lets a residence's sound carry only 100 feet beyond the property line at night, versus 300 feet by day, and the Chapter 16 zone table drops every decibel ceiling for the night hours too.
New Britain Nighttime Noise Limits
Some RestrictionsNew Britain Code of Ordinances §§ 16-102, 16-105(b)
Nighttime hours: The hours between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sunday evening through Saturday morning and between 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. Saturday evening through Sunday morning. ... (b)Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to emit or cause to be emitted from a residence any noise that is audible more than three hundred (300) feet beyond the property l...
Construction Hours
New Britain exempts construction equipment noise from Article V's citywide noise standards only when the work happens during daytime hours, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday. Run equipment at night and Sec. 16-106(b)(1) requires it to stay within the Sec. 16-105 decibel caps for the surrounding noise zone, not run unrestricted like daytime work.
New Britain Limits Construction Noise to Daytime
Some RestrictionsNew Britain Code of Ordinances § 16-106(b)(1)
Construction: ... The assembly, erection, substantial repair, alteration, demolition or site preparation for or of public or private rights-of-way, buildings or other structures, utilities or property. Construction equipment: Any equipment or device operated by fuel or electric power used in construction or demolition. Daytime hours: The hours between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Monday through Satu...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
New Britain bans sound trucks and loudspeakers outright on any public street, and bars radios, phonographs, musical instruments and other sound amplifiers in public streets or places whenever they can be heard to the annoyance of passersby or neighboring premises. Sec. 21-21 carves out only industrial-zone use and government agencies.
New Britain Sound Truck and Loudspeaker Ban
Heavy RestrictionsNew Britain Code of Ordinances § 21-21
(a)Sound trucks prohibited. No person shall operate for any purpose on any public street or highway of the city any device known as a sound truck, loud speaker or sound amplifier, or any instrument of any kind which emits loud or raucous noises and is attached to any vehicle moving or stationary.(b)Sound devices prohibited in public places. No person shall operate sound-producing devices in pub...
Aircraft Noise
New Britain's noise ordinance carves aircraft flight operations out of its own decibel limits entirely, stating in Sec. 16-106 that such noise is "specifically preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration." The city's general noise standards in Sec. 16-105 and its noise-source penalties in Sec. 16-108 simply do not reach aircraft.
New Britain Aircraft Noise Exemption
Few RestrictionsNew Britain Code of Ordinances § 16-106
(a)This article shall not apply to noise emitted by or related to: ... (b)The following shall be exempt from this article, subject to special conditions as specified: ... (4)Noise created by any aircraft flight operations which are specifically preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Decibel Limits
New Britain's noise ordinance sets a decibel table at Sec. 16-105 by emitter class and receptor zone, from 70 dBA industrial-to-industrial down to 45 dBA into a residential zone at night. A separate rule bars any residential noise audible past 300 feet by day or 100 feet at night, regardless of the decibel reading.
New Britain Decibel Limits by Noise Zone
Some RestrictionsNew Britain Code of Ordinances § 16-105
Sec. 16-105. - Noise standards. (a)It shall be unlawful for any person to emit or cause to be emitted any noise beyond the property lines of his/her premises in excess of the following noise levels: Emitter Noise Zone Receptor Noise Zone Class C B A-Day A-Night Class C 70 dBA 66 dBA 61 dBA 51 dBA Class B 62 dBA 62 dBA 55 dBA 45 dBA Class A 62 dBA 55 dBA 55 dBA 45 dBA (b)Notwithstanding subsecti...
Vehicle Noise
New Britain bars motor vehicles and unregistered recreational vehicles from exceeding the noise limits in Sec. 16-105 and Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 14-80a. Sec. 16-107 separately makes it unlawful for any vehicle noise besides the engine itself, meaning stereos, to be audible more than 300 feet away by day or 100 feet at night, and New Britain fines every violation $99.00 per instance.
New Britain Vehicle Noise and Stereo Rules
Some RestrictionsNew Britain Code of Ordinances § 16-107
Sec. 16-107. - Vehicle noise restrictions. The following activities are prohibited: (a)Motor vehicle noise. All motor vehicles operated within the limits of the City of New Britain shall be subject to the noise standards and decibel levels set forth in the regulations authorized in section 14-80a of the Connecticut General Statutes. ... (c)Unregistered recreational vehicle noise. No person shal...