5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Bristol County, Massachusetts.
Verified from official government sources
Bristol County unincorporated areas follow Massachusetts state noise regulations under 310 CMR 7.10, which prohibits sound exceeding ambient levels by more than 10 dBA at the property line. Individual towns within the county may adopt their own noise ordinances. The Board of Health in each town has authority under MGL Ch. 111 §31C to regulate noise.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 40, § 21 – By-laws of towns; purpose
Towns may, for the purposes hereinafter named, make such ordinances and by-laws, not repugnant to law, as they may judge most conducive to their welfare, which shall be binding upon all inhabitants thereof and all persons within their limits. They may, except as herein provided, affix penalties for breaches thereof not exceeding three hundred dollars for each offense, which shall enure to the t...
Bristol County does not impose county-level construction hour restrictions. Construction hours are regulated at the municipal level by individual towns. The state noise regulation 310 CMR 7.10 provides baseline protection against excessive construction noise at property lines.
Barking dog enforcement in Bristol County falls to individual town animal control officers and police departments under MGL Ch. 140 §157. Dogs deemed a nuisance due to habitual barking may be subject to municipal fines. Each town sets its own fine structure.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 157 – Nuisance and dangerous dogs
nuisance dog or a dangerous dog; provided, however, that no dog shall be deemed dangerous: (i) solely based upon growling or barking or solely growling and barking; (ii) based upon the breed of the dog; or (iii) if the dog was reacting to another animal or to a person and the dog's reaction was not grossly disproportionate to any of the following circumstances: (1) the dog was protecting or def...
Leaf blowers in Bristol County municipalities operate under local noise bylaws. No countywide rule; Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton each set their own hours. MA has no statewide leaf blower ban.
Amplified music in Bristol County cities requires entertainment licenses from the local licensing board. Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton each regulate outdoor amplification. MGL c. 272 §53 disturbing-the-peace is the state backstop.
MGL c. 272 §53 — Penalty for disorderly persons / noisy and disorderly houses
Section 53. (a) Common night walkers, common street walkers, both male and female, persons who with offensive and disorderly acts or language accost or annoy another person, lewd, wanton and lascivious persons in speech or behavior, keepers of noisy and disorderly houses, and persons guilty of indecent exposure shall be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than...
4 cities in Bristol 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 Bristol County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Bristol County Ordinance Hub →