5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Bay County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Bay County caps property-line noise at 60 dBA daytime and 55 dBA from 10 p.m. to 6:59 a.m. in residential zones (Sec. 17-72). Panama City Beach and Panama City enforce their own stricter beach noise codes.
Bay County Code Sec. 17-72(b)(1) (Ord. No. 06-11)
In receptor areas zoned residential and conservation: 60 dBA between 7:00 a.m. and 9:59 p.m. 55 dBA between 10:00 p.m. and 6:59 a.m.
Unincorporated Bay County limits construction, demolition, and pile-driving noise to 7 a.m.-7 p.m. in residential and seasonal-resort zones, with no work at all on Sundays. Commercial and industrial zones may start at 6 a.m. (Sec. 17-72(i)).
Bay County Code Sec. 17-72(i)(2) (Ord. No. 06-11)
Constructing, repairing or demolishing buildings or structures or driving pilings: In areas zoned residential or seasonal resort, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., except at no times on Sundays
Bay County's noise ordinance targets amplified sound and vehicles, not animals, so persistent barking is handled as an animal nuisance by Bay County Animal Control. Document dates and times, and a warning usually comes before any citation.
Bay County has no leaf-blower ban. Blowers count as domestic power tools, allowed 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in every zoning district under the noise ordinance (Sec. 17-72(i)(3)). Running one loud enough to disturb neighbors can still draw a complaint.
Bay County Code Sec. 17-72(i)(3) (Ord. No. 06-11)
Operating domestic power tools and equipment, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. in all zoning areas
Bay County bars sound production devices - speakers, instruments, amplifiers - audible 200 feet from their source (Sec. 17-72(f)). Seasonal-resort zones allow amplified music until 11 p.m. Panama City Beach enforces far stricter beach and spring-break sound limits.
Bay County Code Sec. 17-72(f) (Ord. No. 06-11)
Sound production devices shall not be operated in such a manner that they are plainly audible at a distance of 200 feet from the building, structure or vehicle in which they are located.
1 cities in Bay County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Bay County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
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