Noise Ordinances in San Marcos, TX (2026)
5 verified noise ordinances for San Marcos, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
San Marcos has no fixed nighttime quiet-hours window; instead it bans "excessive noise" audible across property lines, judged by time of day, size of the gathering, amplification, and duration.
San Marcos Excessive Noise Nuisance Rule
Light RestrictionsSan Marcos City Code § 34.088
It is unlawful for a person who owns, occupies or acts as a property manager for a residence or is present at any residence to cause, make, or allow excessive noise to be made there if it can be heard across property lines or enters another residence. Factors to be used in determining whether noise is excessive shall include but need not be limited to: the time of day; the size of any gathering...
Construction Hours
San Marcos bars construction noise audible from a public street or a neighboring residence between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., with narrow exceptions for government, emergency, and building-official-approved work.
San Marcos Construction Noise Curfew
Some RestrictionsSec. 14.011
It is unlawful for any person to cause construction noise to be made between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. if the noise can be heard from any public street or from a residence on private property in the city other than the property on which the noise is made.
Barking Dogs
San Marcos treats excessive or persistent dog barking that disturbs a neighbor's peace as a public nuisance, enforceable by Animal Services through notice, citation, and abatement.
San Marcos Barking Dog Nuisance Rule
Some RestrictionsSec. 6.001
Public nuisance means the conduct of any owner in allowing an animal to: ... (4) Cause a disturbance by excessive barking or noise making, near the private residence of another or to the extent that the barking or noise disturbs the peace or quiet of any neighborhood or can be heard from within the residence of another;
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
San Marcos treats outdoor amplified live or recorded music as excessive noise under City Code Sec. 34.088 whenever it's audible across property lines, with amplification equipment named as a factor police weigh in citing violators.
San Marcos Excessive Noise & Amplified Music Rule
Some RestrictionsCity Code § 34.088 (Chapter 34, Division 3, Noise)
It is unlawful for a person who owns, occupies or acts as a property manager for a residence...to cause, make, or allow excessive noise to be made there if it can be heard across property lines or enters another residence. Factors...include...the use of noise amplification equipment...Sources of excessive noise may include but are not limited to live or recorded human voices or sounds produced ...
Vehicle Noise
San Marcos bans operating a vehicle radio, stereo, or CD player audible 30 feet away or causing felt vibration at that distance.
San Marcos Car Stereo Noise Limit
Some RestrictionsSec. 34.087
It is unlawful for any person operating or controlling a motor vehicle to operate any radio, stereo receiver, compact disc player, cassette tape player, or other similar device in the motor vehicle in such a manner that, when operated, it is: (1) Audible in a public place or on private property other than that owned or occupied by the person at a distance of 30 feet or more from the vehicle, or...