Noise Ordinances in King County, WA (2026)

King County Code § 12.86.120.A

Between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. during weekdays, and between 10:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekends, the levels established by K.C.C. 12.86.110 are reduced by 10 dB(A) where the receiving property lies within a rural or residential district of King County. The following sounds are exempt from this subsection: 1. Sounds created by existing stationary equipment used in the conveyance of water...

King County Code Title 12 — Public Peace, Safety and Morals; K.C.C. 12.86.520(A) (Ord. 18000 sec. 78, 2015)

Normal and usual sounds created by construction, including on or by watercraft, are restricted to the following hours unless otherwise specified by the director, and are exempt from this chapter except as provided in subsection C. of this section: 1. For heavy equipment used on construction sites, including crawlers, tractors, bulldozers, rotary drills and augers, loaders, power shovels, cranes...

King County Code § 11.04.230.K

A domesticated animal making noise, to an unreasonable degree, in such a manner as to disturb a person or neighborhood; L. A domesticated animal entering upon a person's property or premises without that person's permission; M. Failure to obtain care for a domesticated animal from a licensed veterinarian when the owner knows the animal has a contagious disease; N. Bringing into King Count...

King County Code § 12.86.410

Loud and raucous sound that emanates frequently, repetitively or continuously from any building, structure or property, including watercraft, located within a rural or residential district or on an adjoining body of water, such as sounds originating from a band session or social gathering; 6. Frequent, repetitive or continuous sound, including but not limited to impulsive or amplified sound...

King County Code § 12.86.500.A

The following sounds are exempt from this chapter: A. Sounds originating from aircraft in flight and sounds that originate at airports and are directly related to flight operations; B. Sounds created by the normal operation of commercial, nonrecreational watercraft; C. Sounds created by normal docking and undocking operations of all watercraft; D. Sounds created by watercraft picking up...

King County Code § 12.86.110

For purposes of this subsection, sound levels shall be measured by a Type 1 or Type 2 sound level meter. Sound level measurements shall be based on the Leq during the measurement interval, using a minimum measurement interval of one minute for a constant sound source or a thirty-minute measurement for a noncontinuous sound source. For sound sources located within unincorporated King County, t...

King County Code §§ 12.86.210, 12.86.220

12.86.210 Motor vehicles – mufflers. It is unlawful for any person to operate, or for any owner to permit any person to operate, any motor vehicle upon the public highways which is not equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation. ... 12.86.220 Motor vehicles – modification to motor vehicles. It is unlawful for any person to modify or change any part of a motor vehicl...