Noise from Specific Sources in Howard County, MD (2026)
1 rule for unincorporated Howard County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Howard County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.
HVAC & Mechanical Noise
Howard County caps residential air-conditioning noise at 70 dBA and heat-pump noise at 75 dBA as measured at a neighbor's residential property. The limit sits inside the county's general noise ordinance as its own numeric standard, and the Health Department can pursue civil penalties for HVAC noise coming from commercial or industrial property.
AC and Heat Pump Noise Limits in Howard County
Some RestrictionsHoward County Code § 8.900(d)(14)
(14)Air conditioning or heat pump equipment used to cool or heat housing on residential property. For this equipment, a person may not cause or permit noise levels which exceed 70 dBA for air-conditioning equipment at receiving residential property, and 75 dBA for heat pump equipment at receiving residential property.
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