10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Nueces County, Texas.
Verified from official government sources
Nueces County sets no noise ordinance because Texas counties cannot zone. In Corpus Christi, sound crossing your property line cannot exceed 60 dB(A) overnight (11:01 p.m.–8:00 a.m. Sun–Thu). Unincorporated areas rely on Texas disorderly-conduct law for unreasonable noise.
Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances § 31-3(2)
Sixty (60) dB(A) between the hours of 11:01 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on Sunday.
Unincorporated Nueces County has no construction-hours rule—Texas counties cannot zone. Corpus Christi Code § 31-6 exempts construction noise only during 7:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.; work outside that window must meet the general decibel limits or qualify as urgent public-safety work.
Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances § 31-6(j)
Sound produced by construction operations including demolition, repair, drilling, excavation, and alteration during the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., unless the work is of urgent necessity in the interest of public health and safety.
Nueces County has no county noise ordinance. In Corpus Christi, Code § 31-2 declares keeping any animal that makes 'frequent or long, continued noise' an unlawful noise nuisance. In unincorporated areas, a barking dog is handled under state disorderly-conduct and nuisance law.
Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances § 31-2(2)
The keeping of any animal, fowl, or bird, which makes frequent or long, continued noise.
Neither Nueces County nor Corpus Christi bans leaf blowers by type or decibel. Corpus Christi Code § 31-6 exempts 'normal maintenance of property, such as lawn mowing' only from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; outside those hours the general limits apply.
Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances § 31-6(h)
Sound generated by the normal maintenance of property, such as lawn mowing, provided the activities take place from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Nueces County sets no noise ordinance. Corpus Christi Code § 31-2 makes playing any radio, instrument, or sound amplifier a noise nuisance when it disturbs neighbors, and § 31-3 caps received sound at 70 dB(A) daytime / 60 dB(A) at night at the property line.
Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances § 31-2(1)
The playing or permitting or causing the playing of any radio, television, drum, juke box, musical instrument, sound amplifier or similar device which produces, reproduces, or amplifies sound.
Neither Nueces County nor Corpus Christi regulates aircraft noise—it is preempted by federal law. Corpus Christi Code § 31-6 expressly exempts sound produced by aircraft in flight, leaving jets over Corpus Christi International and NAS Kingsville/Corpus under FAA control.
Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances § 31-6(g)
Sound generated by any activity in which the regulation thereof has been preempted by state or federal law, including, but not limited to, sound produced by aircraft in flight.
Nueces County cannot zone industrial noise. Corpus Christi Code § 31-4 bans perceptible ground or airborne vibration crossing onto adjoining property, and § 31-6 caps HVAC and pool machinery at 70 dB(A) on residential property, unless state or federal law preempts.
Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances § 31-4
It shall be unlawful for any person to create, maintain or cause any ground or airborne vibration which is perceptible without instruments by a person at any point on any affected property adjoining the property in which the vibration source is located unless such activity is otherwise regulated under state or federal law.
Unincorporated Nueces County has no decibel limit—Texas counties can't zone. Corpus Christi Code § 31-3 caps received sound at 70 dB(A) daytime, 60 dB(A) overnight, and 85 dB(A) in the Entertainment District, measured at the property line where sound is received.
Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances § 31-3(1)
Seventy (70) dB(A) between the hours of 8:01 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and between the hours of 7:01 a.m. and 12:00 midnight on Friday and Saturday.
Nueces County has no outdoor-music ordinance. In Corpus Christi, outdoor sound must meet the § 31-3 property-line limits (70 dB(A) day, 60 dB(A) night), except the downtown/bayfront Entertainment District, where up to 85 dB(A) is allowed at all times.
Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances § 31-3(3)
Eighty-five (85) dB(A) for sound that both originates from and is received on property within the Entertainment District, at all times.
Nueces County has no vehicle-noise ordinance. Corpus Christi Code § 31-5 makes it unlawful to run a vehicle sound amplifier audible 30 feet or more from the source, and § 31-2 requires a working muffler to prevent loud or explosive exhaust noise.
Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances § 31-5
It shall be unlawful for any person operating or controlling a motor vehicle in either a public or private place within the city to operate any sound amplifier ... in such a manner that, when operated, is audible at a distance of thirty (30) or more feet from the source.
1 cities in Nueces County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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