Noise Ordinances in Alachua County, FL (2026)
8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Alachua County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Alachua County lowers its ambient noise ceiling every night from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.: residential property lines drop from 60 to 55 dBA, commercial from 65 to 60 dBA, while industrial and agricultural stay at 75 dBA both day and night, under the county's general excessive-noise standard.
Nighttime Noise Decibel Limits. Alachua County
Some RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 110.04(a)
The noise from any activity or from any permissible use of property within the applicable zoning district classifications of Alachua County shall be deemed to be excessive, unnecessary, offensive and unusually loud if the total noise level as measured on the A-scale due to both ambient noise, and the alleged source of the unnecessary, offensive or excessive noise, exceeds the noise levels which...
Construction Hours
Construction, demolition, excavation, grading, pile driving and similar equipment may not run between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in unincorporated Alachua County unless the work is a true emergency or the contractor has an approved construction noise waiver. Section 110.03(f) makes off-hours construction noise a standalone violation of Chapter 110.
Construction Noise Hours Restriction (Alachua County)
Some RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 110.03(f)
(f)Construction and demolition activity. The operation of any equipment used in construction work, building, excavation, grading, pile driving, pneumatic hammering, demolition, dredging, building alteration or repair work between the hours of 9:00 p.m. of one day and 7:00 a.m. of the next day, except for emergency work or through an approved construction noise waiver per Section 110.12 below.
Barking Dogs
Alachua County treats a dog as a noise violation if it barks, bays, cries or howls continuously for ten minutes, or intermittently for a half-hour or more to the disturbance of others, at any time of day or night, whether or not the dog is on private property.
Barking Dog Nuisance Rule. Alachua County
Some RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 110.03(e)
Animals and birds. The owning, possessing or harboring of any animal or bird which frequently or continuously howls, barks, meows, squawks, or makes other sounds which create excessive noise across a residential or commercial real property line. It shall not be a violation of this section, however, for any animal or bird to give a sound of danger or warning under particular circumstances reason...
Leaf Blower Rules
Alachua County bars outdoor use of power tools and portable mechanical equipment, including power saws, sanders, drills, grinders and lawn or garden tools such as leaf blowers, in residential areas between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. if it causes a noise disturbance across a property line.
Leaf Blower and Power Tool Hours. Alachua County
Some RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 110.03(h)
Portable mechanical equipment; domestic power tools. The use or operation of any power tools or portable mechanical equipment, including a power saw, sander, drill, grinder, lawn or garden tool, or similar device, used outdoors in residential areas between the hours of 9:00 p.m. of one day and 7:00 a.m. the following day so as to cause a noise disturbance across a residential real property boun...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Alachua County bans radios, stereos, sound amplifiers and musical instruments that are plainly audible 50 feet or more beyond the source property line, and separately caps ambient noise by zoning district and time of day: 60 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime for residential areas.
Amplified Sound Limits. Alachua County
Some RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 110.03(b)
The use, operation or playing of any radio, television, phonograph, stereo set, tape player, sound amplifier, musical instrument or similar device which produces or reproduces sound in a manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of 15 meters (50 feet) or more away from the real property line of the source of the sound, to any person in a commercial, industrial, or residential area, or publi...
Aircraft Noise
Alachua County's ULDC Section 405.29 bans new residential structures, schools, and outdoor music venues within the 65 DNL noise contour of Gainesville Regional Airport, and requires 25 to 30 decibels of sound attenuation for hospitals, churches, and similar uses within the 65-75 DNL bands.
Gainesville Regional Airport Noise Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 405.29
The purpose of this Subsection is to restrict the use of land in this overlay district to those uses that are compatible with the high ambient noise levels created by low flying aircraft following prescribed flight paths in landing or takeoff from public use airports... (d)Prohibited uses.(1)The following shall be prohibited within the 65 DNL line or higher for Gainesville Regional Airport:a.Re...
Decibel Limits
Alachua County sets frequency-based decibel ceilings at the property line for uses in industrial districts, measured with a sound level meter and octave band analyzer. Limits run from 70-73 decibels below 75 cycles per second down to 30-33 decibels above 4,800 cycles per second, with slightly higher allowances for the MS/MP district.
Industrial Noise Limits in Alachua County
Some RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 407.61(b)(3)c.3
Noise. The permitted level of noise or sound emission at the property line of the lot on which the principal use is located shall not exceed the values given in the following table in any octave band of frequency. The sound pressure level shall be measured with a sound level meter and an octave band analyzer that conforms to specifications published by the American Standards Association.
Vehicle Noise
Alachua County bans sounding a vehicle horn for more than 60 seconds except as an emergency warning, and separately bars operating any motor vehicle without a muffler at least as effective as the manufacturer's original equipment. Both are standalone violations under Chapter 110's noise-control code, enforced countywide in unincorporated areas primarily by the Alachua County Sheriff's Office.
Vehicle Horn and Muffler Noise Limits (Alachua County)
Some RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 110.03(a), (i)
(a)Horns and signal devices. The sounding of any horn or audible signaling device of a motor vehicle, boat, engine, machine, or stationary boiler, within the jurisdiction of Alachua County, continuously or intermittently for a period in excess of 60 seconds, except as a danger or emergency warning. ... (i)Motor vehicles; mufflers. The use or operation of a motor vehicle without a muffling devic...
Noise Ordinances by City in Alachua County
1 cities in Alachua County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Alachua County ordinances
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