Noise Rules: Lakewood vs Puyallup
How do noise rules rules compare between Lakewood, WA and Puyallup, WA?
Lakewood and Puyallup have similar restriction levels.
Lakewood, WA
Pierce County
Lakewood short-term rental guests must comply with Lakewood Municipal Code Chapter 8.36 (Noise Control), which incorporates Washington's Maximum Environmental Noise Levels (Chapter 173-60 WAC). For sound entering a residential receiving zone, daytime limits run to 55 dBA and drop 10 dBA between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (effectively 45 dBA at night). LMC 18A.40.090 also requires every STR's posted Good Neighbor Policy to address noise restrictions and quiet hours, and LMC 8.36 separately caps frequent, repetitive, or continuous sounds at 75 dBA at the property line.
View full Lakewood rules →Puyallup, WA
Pierce County
Short-term rental guests in Puyallup must comply with Puyallup Municipal Code (PMC) Chapter 6.16 (Noise Control), which adopts by reference Chapter 70.107 RCW and WAC 173-58, 173-60, and 173-62. The state limits incorporated into PMC 6.16 set a 55 dBA daytime maximum and a 45 dBA nighttime maximum at the property line of a residential receiving zone (Class A EDNA), with nighttime defined as 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. PMC 6.16 also restricts plainly audible portable and motor-vehicle audio at 50 feet in residential zones. A violation is a civil infraction with a penalty of up to $250.
View full Puyallup rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Lakewood | Puyallup |
|---|---|---|
| - | - |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Lakewood FAQ
What are quiet hours for Lakewood STRs?
Lakewood does not call them quiet hours by name, but LMC 8.36 (via WAC 173-60) drops the residential noise limit by 10 dBA between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., taking the cap from 55 dBA to about 45 dBA at the receiving property. STRs must post these expectations in their Good Neighbor Policy.
Does Lakewood have an STR-specific noise standard?
No separate decibel standard is set in LMC 18A.40.090. STR guests follow the same Chapter 8.36 / WAC 173-60 limits as any other resident, but the STR ordinance adds a posted-policy and 24/7 contact requirement that does not apply to ordinary homes.
Who do I call about noise from a Lakewood STR at night?
Active disturbances should be reported to Lakewood Police via South Sound 911 non-emergency. Ongoing patterns can also be reported to Lakewood Code Enforcement and to the city's STR licensing program for review against the permit.
Puyallup FAQ
What are Puyallup's quiet hours for STR guests?
Under PMC 6.16, which adopts WAC 173-60, nighttime hours run 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. During those hours the maximum noise at a residential receiving property line drops to 45 dBA.
Does Puyallup have a separate STR noise ordinance?
No. Puyallup has not adopted a stand-alone short-term rental ordinance. STR guests must follow the same PMC Chapter 6.16 limits as any other resident, and operators must comply with state requirements under RCW 64.37.
What is the penalty for a noise violation in Puyallup?
PMC 6.16 violations are civil infractions with a maximum penalty of $250 per occurrence. Each day a violation continues may be treated as a separate infraction.
Who do neighbors call about STR noise in Puyallup?
Active disturbances are reported to the Puyallup Police Department non-emergency line at 253-841-5415. Under RCW 64.37.020, the operator must also provide a 24-hour contact who can respond during a guest's stay.
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