10 rules for unincorporated Escambia County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Escambia County has no blanket decibel curfew; the County Noise Abatement Ordinance (Code Ch. 42) bars unreasonably loud amplified sound at night. Loudspeakers and PA systems are restricted 10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m. weekdays and 10:00 p.m.-10:00 a.m. weekends and holidays.
Escambia County Code § 42-65(f)
The unreasonably loud use or operation of a loudspeaker, amplifier, public address system, or other device for producing or reproducing sound between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays, and 10:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. on weekends and holidays.
In the City of Pensacola, building erection, excavation, demolition, alteration or repair is limited to 6:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Loud construction equipment (pile drivers, pneumatic hammers, hoists) may not run 6:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m. or at any time on Sundays.
Pensacola Code § 8-1-13(b)(7)
The erection, including excavation, demolition, alteration or repair of any building other than between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, except in case of urgent necessity in the interest of public health and safety, and then only with a permit from the director of inspections.
Unreasonably loud noise from any animal or bird is a per se violation of the County Noise Abatement Ordinance. A person is responsible if they own, control or care for the animal. Pensacola separately bars animals whose frequent or long-continued noise disturbs neighbors.
Escambia County Code § 42-65(h)
Unreasonably loud noise emitted by an animal or bird for which a person is responsible. A person is responsible for an animal if the person owns, controls or otherwise cares for the animal or bird.
Neither Escambia County nor Pensacola has a dedicated leaf-blower ordinance or a gas-blower ban. Leaf-blower noise is governed by the general prohibition on unreasonably loud sound in the County Noise Abatement Ordinance (Sec. 42-64), judged by volume, time and proximity to homes.
Escambia County Code § 42-64(a)
It shall be unlawful for a person to make, cause, allow or permit to be made any unreasonably loud sound within the geographical boundaries of the county or within those areas over which the county has jurisdiction, including the waters and beaches adjacent to, abutting or bordering the county.
Playing a radio, stereo, boombox or instrument that is plainly audible 100 feet away in a commercial, industrial or public space is a per se violation in unincorporated Escambia County. Sound that unreasonably disturbs neighbors in residential areas is also prohibited under Sec. 42-65(e).
Escambia County Code § 42-65(e)
The use or operation of a radio, television, boombox, stereo, musical instrument, or similar device that produces or reproduces sound... plainly audible at a distance of 100 feet from any person in a commercial, industrial area, or public space.
Escambia County does not regulate aircraft noise. Aircraft operations, including from Naval Air Station Pensacola and Pensacola International Airport, are governed by federal law; the FAA controls navigable airspace, and local noise ordinances (Code Ch. 42) do not apply to aircraft in flight.
Escambia County has no separate industrial decibel table for most areas; industrial and commercial noise is judged under the general unreasonableness standard, which expressly weighs the zoning of the area. Loud loading and unloading of vehicles or vessels at a business or residence is a per se violation.
Escambia County Code § 42-65(i)
Loading or unloading merchandise, materials, equipment or commodities: The creation of unreasonably loud noise in connection with the loading or unloading of any vehicle or vessel at a place of business or residence.
Most of unincorporated Escambia County uses a reasonableness standard, not fixed decibels. But Santa Rosa Island (Pensacola Beach) and Perdido Key have objective caps: 70 dbA in the Pensacola Beach core; 65 dbA (day) and 55 dbA (10 p.m.-7 a.m.) elsewhere on the island; 70 dbA average on Perdido Key.
Escambia County Code § 42-67(a)
On the remainder of Santa Rosa Island, outside the core area, in no event shall a person... create any source of sound... which exceeds 65 dbAs (sound level measurement) between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and which exceeds 55 dbAs (sound level measurement) between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Outdoor concerts, festivals and public events that will exceed noise limits need a permit (a limited waiver) from the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners. Without stated times, a permit cannot allow excessive noise before 12:00 noon, past 10:30 p.m., or for more than four hours.
Escambia County Code § 42-66(g)
If a permit does not indicate the applicable times for the waiver, then the permit shall not allow the excessive noise to begin earlier than 12:00 noon or to extend beyond 10:30 p.m. or to continue for a period of more than four hours between the hours of 12:00 noon and 10:30 p.m.
Sounding a vehicle horn or signaling device for more than ten consecutive seconds (except as a danger warning) is a per se violation in unincorporated Escambia County. Pensacola also bars unmuffled exhaust and defective vehicles that create loud grinding or rattling noise.
Escambia County Code § 42-65(b)
The sounding of any horn, signaling device, or other similar device, on any automobile, motorcycle, or other vehicle on any right-of-way or in any public space of Escambia County, for more than ten consecutive seconds. The sounding of any horn, signaling device, or other similar device, as a danger warning is exempt from this prohibition.
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