Quiet Hours: Albany vs Colonie
How do quiet hours rules compare between Albany, NY and Colonie, NY?
Albany and Colonie have similar restriction levels.
Albany, NY
Albany County
Albany prohibits unreasonable noise under City Code Chapter 255. Quiet hours run from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM, during which sound plainly audible at 50 feet from a residence is a violation. The ordinance covers amplified sound, vehicle stereos, construction, and animals, and Albany Police respond to complaints from neighbors and apartment dwellers.
View full Albany rules →Colonie, NY
Albany County
The Town of Colonie codifies fixed nighttime quiet hours in Chapter 135 (Noise Control) of the Town Code, adopted by the Town Board on August 28, 2003. Sound measured at the real property line cannot exceed 65 dBA between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, or between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Industrial property sits at 75 dBA during the nighttime window.
View full Colonie rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Albany | Colonie |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | |
| Code Section | - | Town Code Chapter 135 (Noise Control) |
| Residential/Commercial Limit | - | 65 dBA at property line during nighttime |
| Industrial Limit | - | 75 dBA at property line during nighttime |
| Sun-Thu Nighttime | - | 10:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. |
| Fri-Sat Nighttime | - | 11:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. |
| Enforcement | - | Colonie Police (518) 783-2744 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Albany FAQ
What are quiet hours in Albany, NY?
Quiet hours run from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM every night under City Code Chapter 255. During these hours, any noise plainly audible at 50 feet from a residence is a violation.
My student-housing neighbors are throwing a loud party — who do I call?
Call Albany Police non-emergency at (518) 438-4000 or dial 311. The Quality of Life Unit responds to noise complaints, and repeat-offender properties can be cited under the city's nuisance abatement law.
Can I mow my lawn early on a Saturday?
Power equipment audible beyond your property line is generally limited to 7:00 AM weekdays and 9:00 AM on Saturdays. Mowing at 6:30 AM on a Saturday can draw a complaint and a citation.
Colonie FAQ
What are the official quiet hours in the Town of Colonie?
Colonie has codified quiet hours in Chapter 135 of the Town Code. Noise at the real property line cannot exceed 65 dBA (residential or commercial) or 75 dBA (industrial) between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on Sunday through Thursday nights, or between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. A separate reasonable-person test applies at any hour.
What happens if I am cited for a noise violation in Colonie?
Section 135-7 sets a tiered penalty. A first conviction is a $50 to $250 fine or up to 7 days in jail. A second conviction is $100 to $250 or up to 10 days. A third or subsequent conviction is a minimum $250 fine and up to 15 days. Each day a violation continues can be charged separately, and a parallel state charge under N.Y. Penal Law Section 240.20 is also available.
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