Decibel Limits: Boulder City vs Paradise
How do decibel limits rules compare between Boulder City, NV and Paradise, NV?
Paradise has fewer restrictions than Boulder City.
Boulder City, NV
Clark County
Boulder City sets hard decibel limits: 70 dB residential at all times, 100 dB commercial 7 AM to 9 PM, 90 dB commercial at other hours. Among the strictest in Clark County.
View full Boulder City rules →Paradise, NV
Clark County
Title 30 Section 30.68.020 uses an octave-band table. At 1000 Hz: residential 47 day / 37 night; business 52 day / 42 night; industrial 67 day / 57 night. A 10 dB exceedance is allowed once per day for up to 15 minutes.
View full Paradise rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Boulder City | Paradise |
|---|---|---|
| Residential | 70 dB all hours | - |
| Commercial Day | 100 dB 7 AM to 9 PM | - |
| Commercial Night | 90 dB other hours | - |
| Effective Date | February 3, 2022 | - |
| Exemptions | Emergency, permitted work, events | - |
| Structure | - | Octave-band table |
| Residential 1 kHz | - | 47 day / 37 night |
| Business 1 kHz | - | 52 day / 42 night |
| Industrial 1 kHz | - | 67 day / 57 night |
| Day Window | - | 7 AM - 10 PM |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Boulder City FAQ
How loud is 70 dB?
About the volume of a dishwasher or a vacuum cleaner at 10 feet. It is noticeably stricter than a normal conversation (60 dB) and much quieter than typical traffic noise (80 dB).
Who measures the decibel level?
Boulder City Police use a calibrated sound meter at the complainant's property line. The measurement location and duration are documented for enforcement.
Paradise FAQ
Is Clark County noise measured in dBA?
No. Clark County uses an octave-band table rather than a simple A-weighted meter reading. Enforcement officers read specific frequency bands, with 1000 Hz being the common reference.
What is the 15-minute exception?
Title 30 allows one exceedance of up to 10 dB above the limit for a single period not exceeding 15 minutes in any 24-hour period, which accommodates brief events like a short ceremony or announcement.
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