10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Galveston County, Texas.
Verified from official government sources
Galveston County has no county noise ordinance and cannot zone unincorporated areas. Inside a city the city code governs: Galveston caps sound at 75 dB(A) daytime (7 a.m.-10 p.m.) and 70 dB(A) nighttime (10 p.m.-7 a.m.) at the receiving property line.
Galveston Code Sec. 24-2
Daytime hours—(7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.): dB(A) shall be seventy-five (75). Nighttime hours—(10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.): dB(A) shall be seventy (70).
Galveston County sets no construction-hour rule and cannot zone unincorporated land. Inside League City, construction, demolition, and repair noise is a defense only between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and only if it stays under 75 dB(A) at the nearest home.
League City Code Sec. 42-36(5)
The sound was produced by the erection, excavation, construction, demolition, alteration, or repair work ... conducted between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and which activity did not produce a sound exceeding 75 dB(A) when measured from the nearest residential property where the sound is being received.
Galveston County has no county barking-dog ordinance, but Galveston County Health District Animal Services responds to nuisance-animal complaints countywide. Inside cities, League City Sec. 42-35 makes an animal that makes long, continued noise unlawful as a sound nuisance.
League City Code Sec. 42-35
The keeping of any animal or bird which causes or makes frequent or long and continued sound which unreasonably disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of ordinary, reasonable persons ... who reside in the vicinity thereof is hereby prohibited and declared to be unlawful as a sound nuisance.
No Galveston County ordinance restricts leaf blowers, and Texas HB 2127 broadly preempts local small-engine rules. League City exempts lawn and garden tools used 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. as long as they do not create a sound nuisance.
League City Code Sec. 42-36(7)
The sound was produced by operating or permitting the operation of any mechanically powered saw, drill, sander, router, grinder, lawn or garden tool, lawnmower, or any other similar device used between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and which device did not produce a sound nuisance.
Galveston County sets no amplified-sound rule. In the City of Galveston it is unlawful to operate a loudspeaker or amplifier without a city-manager permit; outdoor commercial amplification requires one. League City requires a police-chief permit for outdoor amplification.
Galveston Code Sec. 24-5(a)
It is unlawful for any person to operate a loudspeaker or amplifier without a permit issued by the city manager. ... Legally operating commercial businesses shall be required to obtain a loudspeaker permit for outdoor performances of any kind where sound amplification is utilized.
Neither Galveston County nor its cities regulate aircraft noise; it is preempted by federal FAA authority. League City's noise code expressly exempts aircraft in flight or operating at an airport, and railroad noise on rights-of-way.
League City Code Sec. 42-36(6)
The sound was produced by aircraft in flight or in operation at an airport, or railroad equipment in operation on railroad rights-of-way.
Galveston County cannot zone or set industrial-noise limits in unincorporated areas; the state disorderly-conduct statute is the only backstop. Inside cities, general noise codes apply: League City bars any sound that unreasonably disturbs neighbors' comfort, health, or peace.
League City Code Sec. 42-31
It shall be unlawful for any person to make, assist in making, permit, continue, cause to be made or continued or permit the continuance of any sound which unreasonably disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others within the limits of the city.
The county sets no decibel limit. Statewide, Texas Penal Code 42.01 presumes noise unreasonable above 85 dB after a warning. City limits are tighter: Galveston caps sound at 75 dB(A) day and 70 dB(A) night at the receiving property line.
TX Penal Code 42.01(c)
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
The county sets no outdoor-music rule. In Galveston, loudspeakers and amplifiers are barred outside the downtown district between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. and any time Sunday. League City permits allow outdoor amplification only 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
Galveston Code Sec. 24-5(b)(2)
It is unlawful to operate a loudspeaker or amplifier ... In any area of the city other than the downtown district between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., or at any time on Sunday.
Loud vehicles are governed statewide, not by the county. Texas Transportation Code 547.604 requires a working muffler that prevents excessive or unusual noise and bans muffler cutouts. League City also bars vehicle sound systems audible 50 feet away.
TX Transportation Code 547.604
A motor vehicle shall be equipped with a muffler in good working condition that continually operates to prevent excessive or unusual noise. A person may not use a muffler cutout, bypass, or similar device on a motor vehicle.
1 cities in Galveston County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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