10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Verified from official government sources
Lancaster County sets no countywide quiet hours. Each of the 60 municipalities does. Lancaster City bars amplified sound that is plainly audible across a property line between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.; other townships and boroughs set their own night hours.
City of Lancaster Code § 198-4B(1)(a)
At any time in such a manner as to cause a noise disturbance across a property line (boundary), or between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. so as to be plainly audible across a property line (boundary).
Lancaster County sets no construction-hours rule. In the City of Lancaster, construction, drilling, and demolition may not run 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, or any time on Sundays and legal holidays. Manheim Township restricts most activity to 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
City of Lancaster Code § 198-4B(3)
Operating or permitting the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction operations, drilling or demolition work between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day on weekdays and Saturdays or any time on Sundays or legal holidays, such that the sound therefrom creates a noise disturbance across the residential real property line (boundary), except for emergency work.
Lancaster County has no countywide barking-dog noise law. Lancaster City's Chapter 198 makes it unlawful to keep an animal that barks continuously for 10 minutes, or intermittently for a half hour, to a neighbor's disturbance. Statewide, the PA Dog Law governs confinement.
City of Lancaster Code § 198-4B(6)
Owning, possessing, harboring or controlling any animal or bird which howls, barks, meows, squawks or makes other sounds continuously and/or incessantly for a period of 10 minutes or makes such noise intermittently for 1/2 hour or more to the disturbance of any person at any time of the day or night.
Lancaster County has no leaf-blower ordinance. Lancaster City's Chapter 198 restricts powered lawn and garden tools, including leaf blowers, outdoors in residential areas between 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. when they disturb a neighbor. Other municipalities set their own hours.
City of Lancaster Code § 198-4B(4)
Operating or permitting the operation of any mechanically powered saw, drill, sander, grinder, lawn or garden tool, snowblower or similar device used outdoors in residential areas between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. so as to cause a noise disturbance across a residential property line (boundary).
Lancaster County sets no amplified-music rule. Lancaster City requires a variance for amplified sound in public and bars it 9:00 p.m.-8:00 a.m. across a property line. Manheim Borough bars amplified sound plainly audible across a property line 10/11 p.m.-7 a.m.
Borough of Manheim Code § 145-4B(1)(a)[1]
At any time in such a manner as to cause a noise disturbance across a property line (boundary), or between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, or between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on Friday or Saturday, so as to be plainly audible across a property line (boundary).
Lancaster County does not regulate aircraft noise, and neither do its municipalities. Aircraft and airspace noise is governed by the Federal Aviation Administration under federal law. Local noise codes, including Lancaster City's Chapter 198, exempt aircraft in flight.
Lancaster County does no zoning, so industrial-noise limits come from your municipality's zoning and noise codes. Notably, Lancaster City's noise ordinance does not list industrial or data-center noise among regulated sources, a gap the City has publicly acknowledged.
Lancaster County sets no decibel limit. Lancaster City repealed its zoning-district decibel tables in 2007 and now uses a plainly-audible disturbance standard rather than a numeric dBA cap. Statewide vehicle decibel limits come from PennDOT's Title 67, Chapter 157.
Lancaster County sets no outdoor-music rule. In Lancaster City, amplified music in public spaces always requires a Zoning Officer variance, and no variance is granted for noise after 10:00 p.m. Nighttime hours (9 p.m.-8 a.m.) otherwise apply across a property line.
Motor-vehicle noise is governed statewide by the PA Vehicle Code, which requires every vehicle to have a working muffler with no cutout or bypass. Lancaster City adds local limits tied to PennDOT sound rules and caps standing-vehicle idling at 15 minutes per hour.
75 Pa.C.S. § 4523(c)
Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a muffler or other effective noise suppressing system in good working order and in constant operation and no muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass or similar device.
1 cities in Lancaster 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 Lancaster County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Lancaster County Ordinance Hub →