Noise Ordinances in Multnomah County, OR (2026)
7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Multnomah County, Oregon.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Unincorporated Multnomah County bans sound over 50 dBA, or plainly audible sound reaching a neighbor's unit or the street, between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. under the county Sound Control Law.
Multnomah County Quiet Hours
Some RestrictionsMultnomah County Code § 15.269(A)(1), (B)
It shall be unlawful for any person to produce or permit to be produced, with a sound producing device, sound which: (A) ... exceeds: (1) Fifty dBA at any time between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day; ... or (B) Is plainly audible at any time between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day: (1) Within a noise sensitive unit ... or (2) On a public right-of-way at a distance of 50 f...
Construction Hours
Unincorporated Multnomah County exempts construction crews from the county's dBA and plainly-audible sound limits during normal operations, so daytime jobsite noise generally isn't a Sound Control Law violation.
Multnomah County construction noise exemption
Few RestrictionsMultnomah County Code § 15.270(F)
Notwithstanding § 15.269, the following exceptions from this subchapter are permitted: ... (F) Sounds caused by industrial, agricultural or construction organizations or workers during their normal operations.
Barking Dogs
Multnomah County bans dogs and other animals from barking, howling or making other noise disturbances audible beyond the owner's property for 10 minutes straight or 30 minutes on and off.
Multnomah County Barking Dog Noise Law
Some RestrictionsMultnomah County Code § 13.305(B)(5)
Permit any animal unreasonably to cause annoyance, alarm or noise disturbance to any person or neighborhood by barking, whining, screeching, howling, braying or other like sounds which may be heard beyond the boundary of the owner's or keeper's property under conditions wherein the animal sounds are shown to have occurred either as an episode of continuous noise lasting for a minimum period of ...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Unincorporated Multnomah County caps sound from musical instruments and other devices at 60 dBA daytime and 50 dBA overnight at a neighboring noise-sensitive property, or bars plainly audible sound after 10 p.m.; Portland sets its own noise rules.
Multnomah County outdoor amplified music limits
Some RestrictionsMultnomah County Code § 15.269(A)(1)-(2)
It shall be unlawful for any person to produce or permit to be produced, with a sound producing device, sound which: (A) When measured at or within the boundary of the property on which a noise sensitive unit which is not the source of the sound is located...exceeds: (1) Fifty dBA at any time between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day; or (2) Sixty dBA at any time between 7:00 a.m. and ...
Aircraft Noise
Homes built within the 65 Ldn noise contour near Portland International Airport must include sound insulation to hold interior noise to 45 decibels, plus a recorded noise easement and buyer disclosure.
Multnomah County Airport Noise Insulation Rule
Some RestrictionsMultnomah County Code § 39.5215(A)
On land within the 65 Ldn noise contour, All new or replacement structures, additions (when the addition is a minimum of 105 of the size of the original structure), and reconstructed structures (when the cost of reconstruction exceeds 75% of the value of the original structure) shall be constructed with sound insulation or other means to achieve a day/night average interior noise level of 45 dB...
Decibel Limits
Multnomah County exempts sounds from industrial, agricultural, and construction operations during normal work from its Sound Control Law, so factories, farms, and job sites in unincorporated areas face no county decibel limit under Code § 15.270(F).
Industrial Noise Exempt From Multnomah County Sound Limits
Few RestrictionsMultnomah County Code § 15.270(F)
Notwithstanding § 15.269, the following exceptions from this subchapter are permitted: (A) Sounds caused by organized athletic or other group activities, when those activities are conducted on property generally used for those purposes, including stadiums, parks, schools, churches, athletic fields, racetracks, airports and waterways, provided, however, that this exception shall not impair the S...
Vehicle Noise
In unincorporated Multnomah County, vehicle stereos, revving engines and squealing tires count as a "sound producing device" and cannot exceed 50 dBA at night or 60 dBA by day at a neighboring home. Portland is not covered.
Multnomah County Vehicle Noise Limits
Some RestrictionsMultnomah County Code § 15.269(A)(1)-(2)
It shall be unlawful for any person to produce or permit to be produced, with a sound producing device, sound which: (A) When measured at or within the boundary of the property on which a noise sensitive unit ... is located ... exceeds: (1) Fifty dBA at any time between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day; or (2) Sixty dBA at any time between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. the same day.
Noise Ordinances by City in Multnomah County
2 cities in Multnomah County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Multnomah County ordinances
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