Decibel Limits: Kirkland vs Seattle
How do decibel limits rules compare between Kirkland, WA and Seattle, WA?
Kirkland and Seattle have similar restriction levels.
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 →Seattle, WA
King County
Unincorporated King County adopts WAC 173-60 decibel limits: 55 dBA daytime and 45 dBA nighttime for Class A residential receiving property. Higher limits apply in commercial and industrial receiving zones.
View full Seattle rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Kirkland | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Day | 55 dBA | - |
| Residential Night | 45 dBA | - |
| Industrial Day | 60 dBA at residence | - |
| Code | WAC 173-60 and KMC 11.84A | - |
| Class A Day | - | 55 dBA (7 AM-10 PM) |
| Class A Night | - | 45 dBA (10 PM-7 AM) |
| Class B Day | - | 60 dBA commercial |
| Class C | - | 70 dBA industrial |
| Measurement | - | Receiving property line |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
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.
Seattle FAQ
How loud is 55 dBA?
Roughly the sound of a typical conversation at 10 feet, or a quiet refrigerator. Normal speech is about 60 dBA, and highway traffic at 50 feet is about 70 dBA.
Can I get a King County deputy to measure decibels?
Rarely on a first complaint. Deputies typically use the plainly audible standard. Formal dBA measurements are done by Code Enforcement on repeat or commercial cases.
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