Noise Ordinances in Taunton, MA (2026)
6 verified noise ordinances for Taunton, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Taunton adopted a comprehensive noise ordinance (Chapter 315) on November 2, 2021, prohibiting preventable and unnecessary noise. Noise that annoys or disturbs the quiet, comfort, or repose of normal persons is prohibited at any time or place. Animals or birds plainly audible at 50 feet from the lot line are also prohibited.
Taunton Quiet Hours & Noise Ordinance
Some RestrictionsMassachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 21
Section 21. Towns may, for the purposes hereinafter named, make such ordinances and by-laws, not repugnant to law, as they may judge most conducive to their welfare, which shall be binding upon all inhabitants thereof and all persons within their limits. They may, except as herein provided, affix penalties for breaches thereof not exceeding three hundred dollars for each offense, which shall en...
Construction Hours
Taunton limits building construction, demolition, alteration and excavation noise to the hours between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Work outside that window needs an emergency permit from the Building Commissioner, issued only where urgent public health or safety needs require it, and violations carry escalating fines up to $300 per offense.
Taunton Construction Noise Hours Limit
Some RestrictionsTaunton City Code § 315-2.C(6)
(6) Constructing or repairing of buildings. The erection, including excavating, or the demolition, alteration or repair of any building other than between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., except in cases of urgent necessity in the interest of public health and safety, and then only with a permit from the Building Commissioner, which may be granted for a period of three days or less while the emergency ...
Barking Dogs
Taunton's noise ordinance Chapter 315 prohibits keeping any animal or bird that causes frequent or long-continued sounds plainly audible within a noise-sensitive zone or at 50 feet from the lot line. Violations are fined up to $100 for the first offense, escalating to $300.
Taunton Barking Dog Regulations
Some RestrictionsMassachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 157
Section 157. (a) Any person may file a complaint in writing to the hearing authority that a dog owned or kept in the city or town is a nuisance dog or a dangerous dog; provided, however, that no dog shall be deemed dangerous: (i) solely based upon growling or barking or solely growling and barking; (ii) based upon the breed of the dog; or (iii) if the dog was reacting to another animal or to a ...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Taunton bars playing a radio, television, phonograph or other sound-producing device loudly enough to disturb neighbors, or louder than needed for voluntary listeners to hear it comfortably. Running such a device between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in a way that disturbs a normal person at the property line is automatic evidence of a violation.
Taunton Amplified Sound and Radio Noise Rule
Some RestrictionsTaunton City Code § 315-2.C(2)
(2) Radios, phonographs and similar devices. The using, operating or permitting to be played, used or operated of any radio receiving set, television set, musical instrument, phonograph or other machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound in such a manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of the neighboring inhabitants or at any time with louder volume than is necessary...
Decibel Limits
Taunton caps outdoor sound under Chapter 315 with a decibel table keyed to time of day and district: up to 75 db in residential areas on early evenings, tightening to 40 db in other districts overnight for sounds lasting over two hours. The Police Chief, Building Commissioner and Director of Public Health enforce it citywide.
Taunton Noise Decibel Limits by District
Some RestrictionsTaunton Code § 315-7
Any activity not expressly exempted by this chapter which creates or produces sound, regardless of frequency, exceeding the ambient noise levels at the property line of any property or, if a condominium or apartment house, within any adjoining apartment above the ambient noise levels as designated in the following table, at the time and place and for the duration then mentioned, shall be deemed...
Vehicle Noise
Taunton bars unnecessary horn use, sirens on non-emergency vehicles, and any automobile or motorcycle so out of repair, overloaded or operated that it causes loud grating, grinding or rattling noise. Violations of the Noise Ordinance draw fines starting at $100 for a first offense and rising to $300 for repeat violations.
Taunton Vehicle Horn and Noise Rules
Some RestrictionsTaunton City Code § 315-2.C(1) and § 315-2.C(5)
(1) Horns and signaling devices. The sounding of any horn or signaling device on any automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle on any street or public place of the City, except as a danger warning; the creation by means of any such signaling device of any unreasonably loud or harsh sound; the sounding of any such device for an unnecessary and unreasonable period of time; the use of any signaling ...
Looking for Bristol County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Taunton city rules.
Noise Ordinances in Bristol County →