5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Norfolk County, Massachusetts.
Verified from official government sources
Norfolk County, MA does not have a county-level noise ordinance. Massachusetts counties have extremely limited regulatory authority; noise rules are set by each individual city or town. Residents must follow their municipality's ordinance.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 40, § 21 (Municipal By-Law Authority — Cities and Towns May Enact Ordinances Including Noise and Quiet-Hour Regulations) (Massachusetts General Laws; applies to all cities/towns within the county)
Section 21. Towns may, for the purposes hereinafter named, make such ordinances and by-laws, not repugnant to law, as they may judge most conducive to their welfare, which shall be binding upon all inhabitants thereof and all persons within their limits. They may, except as herein provided, affix penalties for breaches thereof not exceeding three hundred dollars for each offense, which shall en...
Norfolk County has no county-level construction-hours ordinance. Construction noise rules are set by each individual municipality in the county. Most towns follow typical MA practice of allowing construction weekdays approximately 7 AM–6 PM.
Norfolk County does not regulate barking dogs at the county level. Dog noise complaints are handled by each municipality's animal control officer and police department under local bylaws.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 157 (Nuisance and Dangerous Dog Procedures — Complaints About Barking or Disturbing Dogs) (Massachusetts General Laws; applies to all cities/towns within the county)
Section 157. (a) Any person may file a complaint in writing to the hearing authority that a dog owned or kept in the city or town is a nuisance dog or a dangerous dog; provided, however, that no dog shall be deemed dangerous: (i) solely based upon growling or barking or solely growling and barking; (ii) based upon the breed of the dog;
Norfolk County has no county-level leaf blower ordinance. Rules vary dramatically by municipality — Brookline has a full gas leaf blower ban, while other towns only regulate hours.
Norfolk County does not regulate amplified music. Each municipality requires entertainment licenses or one-day amplified sound permits under MGL c. 140 §183A. ABCC-licensed venues must meet state license conditions.
MGL c. 272, Section 53 - Penalty for certain offenses (Disturbers of the Peace / Noisy Houses)
Section 53: Penalty for certain offenses. Section 53. (a) Common night walkers, common street walkers, both male and female, persons who with offensive and disorderly acts or language accost or annoy another person, lewd, wanton and lascivious persons in speech or behavior, keepers of noisy and disorderly houses, and persons guilty of indecent exposure shall be punished by imprisonment in a jai...
3 cities in Norfolk 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 Norfolk County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Norfolk County Ordinance Hub →