10 rules for unincorporated Baltimore County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Baltimore County's noise law (County Code § 17-3-103) sets no fixed clock-hour quiet time. It bans domestic noise that 'unreasonably disturbs' neighbors at any hour. Numeric nighttime limits come from Maryland COMAR: 55 dBA in residential zones from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Baltimore County Code § 17-3-103
A person may not create domestic noise or allow domestic noise to be created that unreasonably disturbs the peace, quiet, and comfort of the neighboring inhabitants.
Baltimore County's Title 3 noise code sets no specific countywide construction-hour window. Construction noise is instead governed by Maryland's COMAR daytime dB limits (65 dBA residential, 7 a.m.–10 p.m.), with a stricter 55 dBA cap overnight. Check your municipality for tighter local hours.
COMAR 26.02.03.02
Table 1 Maximum Allowable Noise Levels (dBA): Residential Day 65, Night 55; Commercial Day 67, Night 62; Industrial Day 75, Night 75.
A persistently barking dog is treated as a domestic noise nuisance under Baltimore County Code § 17-3-103 when it 'unreasonably disturbs' neighbors. Baltimore County Animal Services and police respond to complaints; there is no set number of minutes in the county code.
Baltimore County Code § 17-3-103
A person may not create domestic noise or allow domestic noise to be created that unreasonably disturbs the peace, quiet, and comfort of the neighboring inhabitants.
Baltimore County has no leaf-blower-specific ban or hour restriction in its code. Gas leaf blowers must comply with Maryland's COMAR noise limits, which cap noise at 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime at a residential property line, effectively restricting use to daytime hours.
COMAR 26.02.03.02
Table 1 Maximum Allowable Noise Levels (dBA): Residential Day 65, Night 55; Commercial Day 67, Night 62; Industrial Day 75, Night 75.
Loud amplified music from a home or party is banned as domestic noise under Baltimore County Code § 17-3-103 when it 'unreasonably disturbs' neighbors. Maryland COMAR also caps residential noise at 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime at the property line.
COMAR 26.02.03.02
A person may not cause or permit the emission of prominent discrete tones and periodic noises which exceed a level which is 5 dBA lower than the applicable level listed in Table 1.
Aircraft noise is regulated by the FAA, not Baltimore County. Maryland COMAR explicitly does not apply to aircraft in flight, and local governments cannot set flight-noise limits. Complaints about BWI or overflights go through the airport and FAA noise programs.
Industrial and commercial noise in Baltimore County is governed by Maryland COMAR 26.02.03, measured at the receiving property. If the neighbor is residential, the limit is 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime, even for a factory or plant next door.
COMAR 26.02.03.02
Table 1 Maximum Allowable Noise Levels (dBA): Residential Day 65, Night 55; Commercial Day 67, Night 62; Industrial Day 75, Night 75.
Baltimore County uses Maryland's statewide COMAR 26.02.03 decibel limits, measured at the receiving property line: 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime for residential zones, 67/62 dBA commercial, and 75 dBA industrial day and night.
COMAR 26.02.03.02
A person may not cause or permit noise levels which exceed 70 dBA for air conditioning equipment at receiving residential property and 75 dBA for heat pump equipment at receiving residential property.
Outdoor music, live bands, and speakers on residential property fall under Baltimore County's domestic-noise ban (§ 17-3-103) when they 'unreasonably disturb' neighbors, plus Maryland COMAR dB limits of 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime at the property line.
Baltimore County Code § 17-3-103
A person may not create domestic noise or allow domestic noise to be created that unreasonably disturbs the peace, quiet, and comfort of the neighboring inhabitants.
Loud vehicles, revving engines, and modified exhaust in Baltimore County are governed by Maryland state motor-vehicle and COMAR noise law rather than a county ordinance. COMAR caps residential-line noise at 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime; state law bans defective or excessively loud exhaust systems.
COMAR 26.02.03.02
Table 1 Maximum Allowable Noise Levels (dBA): Residential Day 65, Night 55; Commercial Day 67, Night 62; Industrial Day 75, Night 75.
See every category we cover for Baltimore County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Baltimore County Ordinance Hub →