Noise Ordinances in Mason County, WA (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Mason County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Unincorporated Mason County does not shut off noise at a set clock hour, but Code Section 9.36.080 grants a narrow exemption only between seven a.m. and ten p.m. for specific activities: home repair and yard work, firearms discharge, aircraft engine testing, utility installation or repair, and blasting. Outside that window those same sounds lose the exemption and fall under the standard Section 9.36.060 decibel caps.
Mason County Nighttime Noise Exemption Window
Some RestrictionsMason County Code § 9.36.080
9.36.080 - Daytime exemption. The following shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter between the hours of seven a.m. and ten p.m.: (1)Sounds originating from residential property relating to temporary projects for the maintenance or repair of homes, grounds and appurtenances;(2)Subject to Ord. 438 Subsection 2, 1975 (Fire Arms), sounds created by the discharge of firearms;(3)Sounds c...
Construction Hours
In unincorporated Mason County, construction noise is not capped by a decibel table at all. Code Section 9.36.090, headed 'Daytime residential exemption,' excuses sounds from temporary construction sites, and separately from forest harvesting, silviculture, agriculture and aquaculture, from the Section 9.36.060 sound-level limits, and the operative text sets no specific start or end clock hour for the exemption.
Mason County Construction Noise Exemption
Few RestrictionsMason County Code § 9.36.090
9.36.090 - Daytime residential exemption. The following shall be exempt from the maximum permissible noise levels set forth in Section 9.36.060: (1)Sounds originating from temporary construction sites as a result of construction activity;(2)Sounds originating from forest harvesting, silvicultural activity, commercial agriculture and aquaculture.
Barking Dogs
In unincorporated Mason County, a dog or other animal that habitually howls, barks, yelps or makes other prolonged sounds disturbing a neighborhood's quiet is a public nuisance under the county code. An enforcement officer decides whether the barking is prolonged and unreasonable, and normal animal noise is exempt. Repeat violations escalate through a warning, two rising civil infractions, and finally a misdemeanor charge.
Mason County WA Barking Dog Nuisance Law
Some RestrictionsMason County Code §§ 4.08.030, 4.08.040, 4.08.150
It shall be a public nuisance, and therefore unlawful, for any person to permit their animal(s) to: ... (6)Annoy or disturb a neighborhood or the quiet and repose of one or more persons by habitually howling, barking, yelping or other prolonged sounds as determined by an enforcement officer. ... The provisions of this chapter relating to public nuisance do not apply if an animal; ... (2)Is emit...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Unincorporated Mason County restricts amplified sound used to sell or advertise on public streets. Code Section 9.36.120(4) bans a sound amplifier or similar device used on public streets for commercial advertising, sales pitches, or attracting attention to a vehicle or structure, while exempting vendors who sell solely from a moving vehicle.
Mason County Street Sound Amplifier Rule
Some RestrictionsMason County Code § 9.36.120(4)
9.36.120 - Public disturbance noises. It is unlawful for any person to cause, or for any person in possession of real or personal property to allow to originate from the property, sound that is a public disturbance noise. The following sounds are hereby determined to be public disturbance noises: ... (4)The use of a sound amplifier or other device capable of producing amplified sound upon publi...
Aircraft Noise
Unincorporated Mason County does not regulate aircraft noise under its local decibel table. Code Section 9.36.100(2) exempts sounds originating from aircraft in flight and sounds that originate at airports which are directly related to flight operations from the Section 9.36.060 maximum permissible noise levels, leaving flight-operation noise outside county enforcement.
Mason County Aircraft Noise Exemption
Few RestrictionsMason County Code § 9.36.100(2)
9.36.100 - Other exemptions. The following shall be exempt from the maximum permissible noise levels set forth in Section 9.36.060: (1)Sounds created by the normal operation of motor vehicles while upon public highways. Such motor vehicles are nevertheless subject to the provisions of Sections 9.36.130 through 9.36.150, pertaining to motor vehicle noise standards;(2)Sounds originating from airc...
Decibel Limits
In unincorporated Mason County, Washington, every property carries an Environmental Designation for Noise Abatement (EDNA) class of A, B or C, and Mason County Code Section 9.36.060 caps sound crossing a property line by the class pairing of the source and receiving property. A Class A residential receiving property caps incoming noise at 55 dBA from another Class A source, 57 dBA from Class B, and 60 dBA from Class C.
Mason County Noise Decibel Limits by EDNA Class
Some RestrictionsMason County Code §§ 9.36.060, 9.36.070
9.36.060 - Maximum permissible sound levels—General application. Except where the motor vehicle noise standards or the watercraft noise standards in this chapter are applicable, the maximum permissible noise levels are set forth below in the following table and are subject to any applicable deviations or exemptions set forth in Sections 9.36.070 through 9.36.100. EDNA OF NOISE SOURCE EDNA OF RE...
Vehicle Noise
Mason County requires every motor vehicle on public highways to run a working exhaust system and muffler under Section 9.36.130(b), caps in-use sound levels by vehicle category under the same section's tables, and separately bans unmuffled engine compression brakes countywide under Section 10.34.010. Compression-brake violations carry escalating traffic-infraction fines of $250, $500, and $750 for repeat offenses under Section 10.34.030.
Vehicle Muffler and Brake Noise Rules in Mason County
Some RestrictionsMason County Code §§ 9.36.130, 10.34.010, 10.34.030
(b)Every motor vehicle operated upon the public highways shall at all times be equipped with an exhaust system and a muffler in good working order and constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise.(c)No person shall operate a motor vehicle in such a manner as to cause or allow to be emitted squealing, screeching or other such noise from the tires in contact with the ground because of...
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