Noise from Specific Sources in St. Louis, MO (2026)
4 verified noise from specific sources rules for St. Louis, Missouri, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
HVAC & Mechanical Noise
St. Louis exempts residential air conditioners, heating systems and cooling towers from its stationary noise ordinance, but commercial and industrial HVAC equipment must still meet Table I decibel limits that vary by zoning district and time of day.
St. Louis HVAC Noise Rules
Light RestrictionsSt. Louis Revised Code § 15.51.040(J)
All single- and multifamily residential air-conditioning units, HVAC systems, cooling towers and/or heating systems. In addition, nothing in this provision shall be construed to preclude the City, or any other person, in seeking relief for a nuisance violation under any other provision of law for such systems.
Bar & Nightclub Noise
St. Louis caps amplified sound from licensed bars and nightclubs at 86 dBA measured 50 feet from the premises, enforced by the Excise Commissioner.
St. Louis Bar & Nightclub Noise Limit
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis Revised Code § 14.05.095
No licensee, servant, employee shall violate or allow the violation of the stricter of (1) any general noise ordinance or (2) shall operate, play, or permit the operation of any... sound device...to emit and direct music, spoken words, sounds or noise of any kind exceeding eight-six (86) decibels on an A-weighted scale when measured across property lines fifty (50) feet or more from...the licen...
Car Alarm Limits
St. Louis's alarm ordinance (Title 8, Ch. 8.13) defines "alarm subscriber" to exclude audible alarms on motor vehicles, so car alarms carry no city registration, permit, or 15-minute duration cap: only the general noise nuisance law applies.
St. Louis Exempts Car Alarms From Alarm Code
Few RestrictionsSt. Louis Revised Code § 8.13.010
"Alarm subscriber" means any person who leases, contracts for, buys or otherwise obtains and operates an alarm system for the purpose of obtaining response to the alarm, and on whose premises an alarm system is maintained, excluding audible alarms on motor vehicles and medical alarms.
Generator Noise
St. Louis regulates generators as "stationary noise sources." Measured at the property line, they can't exceed 55 dB(A) by day and 50 dB(A) at night in residential zoning districts, with higher caps in commercial and industrial areas.
St. Louis Generator Noise Limits
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis Revised Code § 15.51.030(A)
No person shall operate or permit to be operated any stationary noise source which emits noise in such a manner that the level of the noise emitted, when measured at any point outside the boundary of the property upon which the stationary noise source is located using the slow meter characteristic and the A-weighting network of the sound level meter, exceeds the levels set forth in Table I belo...