10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Cameron County, Texas.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Cameron County has no county quiet-hours ordinance — Texas counties cannot enact general noise ordinances. Outside city limits your only tool is the state disorderly-conduct law (Penal Code 42.01). Inside Brownsville, Harlingen and other cities, city noise codes apply.
Tex. Penal Code § 42.01(a)(5)
A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly... makes unreasonable noise in a public place other than a sport shooting range... or in or near a private residence that he has no right to occupy.
Cameron County sets no construction-hours ordinance for unincorporated areas — Texas counties can't zone or pass general noise rules. Cities do: Brownsville limits construction noise to 7 a.m.–5 p.m. (until 9 p.m. for light hand/power-tool work), and bars amplified sound as construction activity.
Brownsville Code § 46-78(c)(2)
Sound from construction work for which a building permit has been issued shall be permitted in an industrial zoning district during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for work of any type, and until 9:00 p.m. for light construction work that uses only hand tools and power tools... with no more than five horsepower.
Unincorporated Cameron County has no dedicated barking-dog noise ordinance — Texas counties lack general noise authority. Chronic barking may be addressed as a nuisance or as state disorderly conduct. Cities like Brownsville treat animal noise as unreasonable noise under their code.
There is no leaf-blower noise ordinance in unincorporated Cameron County — Texas counties can't regulate noise. Cities may limit equipment noise through their general noise codes. Brownsville's code covers any 'device' producing sound but sets no specific leaf-blower ban.
Unincorporated Cameron County has no amplified-music permit or ordinance — Texas counties can't regulate noise. Cities do: Brownsville requires a permit to operate any amplifying 'device' on a public street and enforces zone decibel limits under Chapter 46.
Brownsville Code § 46-76 (Definitions)
Device means and includes any mechanical or electrical device, machine, apparatus or instrument to intensify or to amplify or to reproduce the human voice or any other sound.
Aircraft noise is regulated by the FAA, not Cameron County. Texas counties have no authority over aircraft or airspace noise, and none over ground noise generally. Complaints about Brownsville/South Padre Island International or Valley International (Harlingen) go to the airport and FAA.
Unincorporated Cameron County has no industrial-noise ordinance — Texas counties can't zone or regulate noise. State disorderly-conduct and nuisance law provide limited fallback. Cities set zone decibel caps: Brownsville allows higher limits in commercial and industrial zones than residential.
Unincorporated Cameron County sets no decibel limits — Texas counties can't pass noise ordinances. The state uses an 85 dB threshold in the disorderly-conduct presumption. Cities set real limits: Brownsville allows 63 dB(A) daytime / 50 dB(A) overnight in residential zones.
Tex. Penal Code § 42.01(c)
For purposes of Subsection (a)(5), a noise is presumed to be unreasonable if the noise exceeds a decibel level of 85 after the person making the noise receives notice from a magistrate or peace officer that the noise is a public nuisance.
Cameron County has no outdoor-music or event-noise ordinance for unincorporated areas — Texas counties can't regulate noise. Cities do: Brownsville requires a permit for amplified devices on public property and allows a parade/fireworks/event permit as a defense to noise charges.
Cameron County has no county vehicle-noise ordinance in unincorporated areas — Texas counties can't regulate noise. State law bans defective mufflers on public roads. Cities set decibel limits: Brownsville caps moving-vehicle sound at 80 dB(A) in the right-of-way.
Brownsville Code § 46-78(b)
Sound from a moving vehicular source located within the public right-of-way shall not exceed 80 decibels on the "A" weighting scale (dB(A))... Such sound shall be measured at a distance of at least 25 feet from a vehicle located within the public right-of-way.
1 cities in Cameron 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 Cameron County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Cameron County Ordinance Hub →