Noise Ordinances in New Orleans, LA (2026)
8 verified noise ordinances for New Orleans, Louisiana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
New Orleans bars audible sound equipment near residential property between 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 10 a.m., and between 10:30 p.m. Friday/Saturday and 10 a.m. The test is whether the sound is plainly audible one foot past the neighboring dwelling's wall or the lot line.
New Orleans Nighttime Noise Curfew
Some RestrictionsNew Orleans Code of Ordinances § 66-203(3)d
It shall be unlawful between the hours of 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:00 a.m. on the subsequent morning or between the hours of 10:30 p.m. on a Friday or Saturday and 10:00 a.m. the subsequent morning to operate or play in a dwelling ... any radio, television, phonograph, loudspeaker, sound-amplification equipment or similar device which produces or reproduces sound in such a manne...
Construction Hours
New Orleans exempts permitted construction and demolition noise from Table 1 limits between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., but in RS, RD or RM residential districts (or within 300 feet of one) work can't start before 7 a.m. or run past 6 p.m., and mufflers on equipment must be maintained.
New Orleans Construction Noise Hours
Some RestrictionsNew Orleans Code of Ordinances § 66-138(7)
Noises from construction and demolition activities for which a building permit has been issued by the department of safety and permits are exempt from Table 1 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., except in those areas zoned as RS, RD, or RM residential districts. Construction and/or demolition activities shall not begin before 7:00 a.m. or continue after 6:00 p.m. in areas zoned as RS...
Barking Dogs
New Orleans bans owners or keepers from letting an animal or fowl make frequent or continuing noise that disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivity. Fines escalate $50, $150, then $300 or up to 90 days, and repeat violators must attend SPCA obedience classes.
New Orleans Barking Dog Nuisance Rule
Some RestrictionsNew Orleans Code of Ordinances §§ 66-203(1), 66-204
Animals. It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any animal or fowl to allow frequent or continuing noise which disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivity. ... Any person who violates section 66-203 shall be fined or imprisoned in accordance with the following: (1)First offense, $50.00.(2)Second offense, $150.00.(3)Third offense or subsequent violations shall result in a fine of...
Leaf Blower Rules
Outdoor power equipment (including leaf blowers) may not run in residential zones between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. weekdays (8:00 a.m. weekends); small units are capped at 75 dBA and larger ones at 82 dBA at 50 feet during daytime.
New Orleans Power Equipment and Leaf Blower Hours
Some RestrictionsNew Orleans City Code Sec. 66-203(6)
It shall be unlawful to operate or permit to be operated any power equipment in residential zones outdoors between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day, and on weekends between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. During daytime hours ... power equipment rated five horsepower or less shall not exceed a sound level of 75 dBA at a distance of 50 feet. Power equipment rated more than five h...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
New Orleans bars playing radios, musical instruments or loudspeakers plainly audible to others in parks, playgrounds or recreation areas between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. unless a permit has been issued. The same public-space devices also can't exceed 80 dBA at 50 feet at any hour.
New Orleans Outdoor Music Curfew, Parks
Some RestrictionsNew Orleans Code of Ordinances § 66-203(3)b
It shall be unlawful to operate or play any radio, television, phonograph, musical instrument, loudspeaker or similar device that is plainly audible to any person other than the operator between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. in parks, playgrounds, or recreation areas unless a permit has been issued.
Aircraft Noise
New Orleans bars operating, running or testing an aircraft engine that creates noise exceeding the Table 1 land-use limits anywhere within an inhabited zone of the city. The rule targets ground testing, maintenance and repair; aircraft actually landing, taking off or taxiing at an airport are exempt.
New Orleans Aircraft Engine Noise Rule
Some RestrictionsNew Orleans Code of Ordinances § 66-203(8)
Aircraft engines.a.It shall be unlawful for any person to operate, run, or test or cause to be operated, run, or tested an aircraft engine which creates a noise level exceeding Table 1 of the receiving land use category measured at any place within an inhabited zone of the city.b.The intent of this subsection is to regulate noise levels produced in the testing, maintenance, and repairs of aircr...
Decibel Limits
New Orleans caps ambient noise by zone and time of day under City Code § 66-202's Table 1: residential areas can't exceed 60 dBA (L10) / 70 dBA (Lmax) by day, dropping to 55/60 dBA overnight; commercial areas run 65/75 dBA by day and 60/65 dBA at night; and industrial zones are capped at 75/85 dBA around the clock, measured at the property boundary.
New Orleans Noise Decibel Limits by Zone
Some RestrictionsNew Orleans City Code § 66-202, Table 1
(a)No person shall operate or cause to be operated any source of sound in such a manner as to create a sound level which exceeds the limits set forth for the receiving land use category in table 1.(b)L10 is the A-weighted sound pressure level which is exceeded ten percent of the time in any measurement period. The measurement period shall not be less than ten minutes when measured at or beyond ...
Vehicle Noise
New Orleans bans altered mufflers and exhaust systems that push a vehicle's noise past set decibel limits, and it caps moving-vehicle sound at 76 to 90 dBA depending on weight and speed. The Department of Health and Police Department jointly enforce the standard, and motorcycle mufflers carry an added $50.00 fine under the traffic fine schedule.
New Orleans Vehicle Muffler and Exhaust Noise Rules
Some RestrictionsNew Orleans City Code § 66-207
(a)Mufflers and sound dissipating devices. No person shall operate, or cause to be operated any motor vehicle equipped with a muffler that exceeds allowable levels in section 66-206.(1)Any modifications to the exhaust system which cause the vehicle to exceed maximum permissible levels is prohibited. Such modifications include: Removal or puncturing the muffler, baffles, header pipes, or any oth...