Noise Ordinances in Tacoma, WA (2026)
6 verified noise ordinances for Tacoma, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Yelling, shouting or singing near a Tacoma street between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. is flagged as a public disturbance noise on its own, no decibel meter needed, just an unreasonable disruption of a neighbor's peace.
Tacoma Nighttime Quiet Hours Rule
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 8.12.060(C)
Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on or near the public streets, particularly between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or at any time and place so as to unreasonably disturb or interfere with the peace, comfort and repose of owners or possessors of real property; D. The creation of frequent, repetitive or continuous sounds which emanate from any building, structure, apar...
Construction Hours
Tacoma bars non-emergency construction and demolition work between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weekdays (9 a.m. on weekends/holidays) and requires mufflers on construction devices when commonly available, under TMC § 8.122.070.
Tacoma Construction Noise Hours & Muffler Rule
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 8.122.070
All construction devices used in construction and demolition activity shall be operated with a muffler if a muffler is commonly available for such construction device. Construction and demolition activity, excluding emergency work, shall not be performed between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays or between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekends and federal holidays, exc...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Tacoma parks require a permit for public address systems and musical acts; permitted bands and performers are capped at 90 decibels measured 50 feet away and at the park boundary under TMC § 8.27.050.
Tacoma Park Outdoor Music Decibel Permit
Significant RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 8.27.050
Permits issued for musical acts or bands shall specify that the noise/sound level emitting from such act or band shall be no greater than 90 decibels at or beyond 50 feet from the act or band and in no event greater than 90 decibels at the boundary of the park. Any person claiming to have a permit issued hereunder must produce and exhibit such permit upon the request of any authorized person w...
Aircraft Noise
Tacoma's noise ordinance exempts aircraft operations outright: helicopter and airplane noise isn't subject to the city's decibel or time-of-day limits under TMC § 8.122.140(F).
Tacoma Helicopter & Aircraft Noise Exemption
Few RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 8.122.140(F)
The operational performance standards established in this chapter shall not apply to any of the following noise sources: A. Agricultural activities. B. Unamplified bells, chimes, or carillons while being used in conjunction with ongoing religious or school activities, or as a function of a City landmark. C. Emergency energy release and signal devices. D. Emergency work conducted at ...
Decibel Limits
Tacoma caps how much a continuous sound can raise noise above the existing ambient level at a neighboring property: 10 dBA/6 dBC outdoors by day, tightening to 5 dBA/3 dBC overnight.
Tacoma Numeric Noise Decibel Limits
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 8.122.060
No person shall make, continue, or cause or permit to be made or continued any continuous sound attributable to any source that increases the total sound level above the ambient sound level by the limits in Table 1 when measured at or within a receiving property: Table 1. Maximum permissible sound level in excess of the ambient sound level: Outdoors Indoors 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 10 dB...
Vehicle Noise
Tacoma bans motor vehicle compression ('Jake') brakes citywide except in genuine emergencies, and separately caps vehicle stereo volume at whatever is audible beyond 50 feet under the traffic code.
Tacoma Engine Brake and Stereo Noise
Heavy RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 8.12.070.A
Except as provided in this chapter, no person shall use motor vehicle compression brakes within the corporate limits of the City of Tacoma. It shall be an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that compression brakes were applied in an emergency to protect persons and or property. B. This chapter shall not apply to vehicles of any municipal fire department, whether or not res...
Looking for Pierce County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Tacoma city rules.
Noise Ordinances in Pierce County →