Noise Ordinances in Rochester, MN (2026)
6 verified noise ordinances for Rochester, Minnesota, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Rochester bans parties or gatherings of four or more people between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. if noise from the group disturbs neighbors' peace and quiet. City Code Sec. 8-7-8(c) also makes it illegal to stay at such a gathering once it starts, and a separate general noise ban under Sec. 8-7-8(a) runs around the clock.
Rochester Quiet Hours: No Loud Parties 11 PM-7 AM
Some RestrictionsRochester City Code § 8-7-8(c)
(c)Parties and gatherings. No person shall, between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., attend or participate in any party or gathering of four or more persons from which noise emanates in sufficient volume to disturb the peace, quiet, comfort or repose of reasonable persons of ordinary sensibilities in any hospital or office, or in any dwelling, hotel, motel or other type of residence, or o...
Construction Hours
Rochester City Code § 8-7-8(b) bars building construction, excavation, demolition, alteration, or repair work between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 p.m. Saturday to noon Sunday, and from 10:00 p.m. Sunday to 7:00 a.m. Monday. The building inspector or city engineer can issue a short-term permit for urgent or low-impact work during those hours.
Rochester Bars Construction Noise After 10 PM
Some RestrictionsRochester City Code § 8-7-8(b)(1)
The erection (including excavation), demolition, alteration or repair of any building requiring a building permit or the performance of any construction work occurring between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 p.m. Saturday through 12:00 noon Sunday, and from 10:00 p.m. Sunday through 7:00 a.m. Monday is a violation of this section. For purposes of thi...
Barking Dogs
Rochester treats excessive barking as a public nuisance once it runs more than five minutes straight or intermittently for over an hour and is audible off the property. A first offense is a petty misdemeanor, and officers can seize a chronically barking dog under specific conditions.
Rochester Barking Dog Nuisance Rule
Some RestrictionsRochester, MN City Code § 3-1-9(a)
It shall constitute a nuisance and be unlawful if any dog barks, whines, howls, bays, cries or makes other noise excessively so as to cause annoyance, disturbance or discomfort to any reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities, provided that such noise lasts for a period of more than five minutes continuously or intermittent barking that continues for more than one hour and is plainly audible ...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Rochester City Code § 8-7-8(e) bans playing a radio, speaker, musical instrument, or similar device so loudly it disturbs a reasonable person's peace and quiet. Sound plainly audible 50 feet from the device is automatic evidence of a violation. A sound-amplification permit under Chapter 8-11 is a defense if the permit holder follows its conditions; unpermitted amplified sound can draw a police citation.
Rochester Caps Audible Sound at 50 Feet
Some RestrictionsRochester City Code § 8-7-8(a), (e)
No person shall use, operate, or permit to be played any radio, tape or disc player, musical instrument, phonograph, or other machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound in such manner, considering the time and place and the purpose for which the sound is produced, so as to disturb the peace, quiet or repose of a reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities.(1)The play, use, or o...
Decibel Limits
Special events in Rochester that use amplified sound may not exceed 85 decibels measured at the property line or venue boundary under City Code Sec. 8-11-6. Organizers can instead ask the city to swap that decibel cap for a hard cutoff time of 10:30 p.m., and temporary cannabis events face a stricter 80-decibel limit measured 50 feet out.
Rochester Event Sound Limit: 85 Decibels
Some RestrictionsRochester City Code § 8-11-6
(a)The measurement of sound pressure levels shall be made with a Type I or Type II decibel meter, as defined by the American National Standards Institute Specifications, S1.4-1971, using the A-weighted, fast response scale. The decibel meter microphone shall be placed three to five feet above ground level and positioned so as not to create any unnatural enhancement or diminution of the measured...
Vehicle Noise
Rochester bans the use of any mechanical exhaust braking device, commonly called Jake braking or engine braking, that produces excessive, loud, unusual or explosive noise from a vehicle anywhere within the city under City Code § 11-1-4, targeting the compression-release brakes used on heavy trucks.
Rochester Jake Brake Ban
Heavy RestrictionsRochester City Code § 11-1-4
It shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle to use or operate within the city any mechanical exhaust device designed to aid in the braking or deceleration of any vehicle which results in the excessive, loud, unusual or explosive noise from such vehicle, or otherwise known as Jake braking.
Looking for Olmsted County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Rochester city rules.
Noise Ordinances in Olmsted County →