Decibel Limits: Auburn vs Kirkland
How do decibel limits rules compare between Auburn, WA and Kirkland, WA?
Auburn and Kirkland have similar restriction levels.
Auburn, WA
King County
Auburn applies WAC 173-60 EDNA limits through ACC 8.28. Residential: 55 dBA day, 45 dBA night. Industrial receiving: 60 dBA day, 50 dBA night. Measured at the receiving property line.
View full Auburn rules →Kirkland, WA
King County
Kirkland applies WAC 173-60 decibel limits: 55 dBA residential, 57 dBA commercial, 60 dBA industrial at a residential property, with a 10 dBA night reduction. KMC 11.84A adds a behavior-based standard.
View full Kirkland rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Auburn | Kirkland |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Day | 55 dBA | 55 dBA |
| Residential Night | 45 dBA | 45 dBA |
| Industrial Day | 60 dBA | 60 dBA at residence |
| Framework | WAC 173-60 EDNA | - |
| Code | - | WAC 173-60 and KMC 11.84A |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Auburn FAQ
Where is the decibel limit measured in Auburn?
At the property line of the receiving property, not at the source. If the sound crosses into a residential zone it is judged by the receiver's limits under WAC 173-60.
What is the maximum decibel level at night in Auburn?
45 dBA at a residential receiver from 10 PM to 7 AM on weekdays under WAC 173-60, as adopted by ACC 8.28.
Kirkland FAQ
What is the decibel limit in Kirkland?
55 dBA residential daytime received at a neighbor residential property, reduced to 45 dBA from 10 PM to 7 AM weekdays under WAC 173-60 adopted via KMC 11.84A.
Does Kirkland Police carry decibel meters?
Usually not. Officers rely on the behavior-based public disturbance standard in KMC 11.84A. Decibel measurement is reserved for complex industrial or commercial cases.
Compare other topics
See how Auburn and Kirkland compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool