Quiet Hours: Wakefield vs Waltham
How do quiet hours rules compare between Wakefield, MA and Waltham, MA?
Wakefield and Waltham have similar restriction levels.
Wakefield, MA
Middlesex County
Middlesex County has no operational county government - it was abolished July 11, 1997 under M.G.L. c. 34B - so there is no countywide noise ordinance. Massachusetts has no statewide decibel limit either; quiet hours are set by each city/town under home rule. The state baseline is 310 CMR 7.10 (MassDEP Noise Pollution Policy), which prohibits any source from causing sound that exceeds the ambient (background) level by more than 10 dB(A) at the property line of the source, or that produces a pure tone condition. In Middlesex County's largest cities, Cambridge Code Ch. 8.16 sets quiet hours from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., Lowell Code Ch. 215 prohibits unreasonable noise from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., and Newton Code Ch. 20 sets the period 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. weekdays.
View full Wakefield rules →Waltham, MA
Middlesex County
Waltham enforces nighttime quiet hours under Chapter 10 of the Municipal Code, with stricter limits in residential zones near Brandeis and Bentley campuses.
View full Waltham rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Wakefield | Waltham |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | |
| Weekday Quiet Hours | - | 10 PM to 7 AM |
| Weekend Quiet Hours | - | 10 PM to 8 AM |
| Enforcement | - | Waltham Police non-emergency |
| State Authority | - | MGL c.40 s.21 |
| Max Fine | - | Up to 300 dollars |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Wakefield FAQ
Waltham FAQ
Can I call police for a loud neighbor at 11 PM?
Yes, Waltham Police accept noise complaints during quiet hours via 781-314-3600.
Do quiet hours apply to college housing?
Yes, off-campus rentals near Brandeis and Bentley must comply with citywide quiet hours.
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