Noise Ordinances in Sarasota County, FL (2026)
7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Sarasota County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Unincorporated Sarasota County's quiet hours run from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., when Sec. 54-118 drops the residential noise ceiling from 65 dBA (70 dBC) to 55 dBA (60 dBC) at the property line. The stricter overnight cap applies to every generating land use in the county's sound-control table, not just homes.
Sarasota County Nighttime Quiet Hours Rule
Some RestrictionsSarasota County Code Sec. 54-118(c)(1), (d)(13)
TABLE I Residential 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 65 70 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 55 60 Commercial/Business 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 75 80 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 70 75 Governmental/OPI 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 65 70 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 60 65 Intensive Commercial/Industrial All times 75 80 ... (13)Sounds produced by the following shall be exempt from the provisions of this section between the hours o...
Construction Hours
Construction and demolition noise in unincorporated Sarasota County is exempt from Sec. 54-118's decibel limits only from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Work between 8:01 p.m. and 6:59 a.m. on those days, and any construction at all on Sunday, must meet the same numeric sound ceilings as every other source.
Sarasota County Construction Noise Hours Limit
Some RestrictionsSarasota County Code Sec. 54-118(a)(9), (d)(13), (d)(15)
(9)Construction shall mean any site preparation, assembly, erection, demolition, substantial repair, alteration, or improvement of realty, whether publicly or privately owned, and whether above ground or below ground... Construction shall include work begun with either a valid permit or without one. ... (13)Sounds produced by the following shall be exempt from the provisions of this section bet...
Barking Dogs
Sarasota County treats a dog that barks, howls or whines enough to unreasonably annoy neighbors as a Public Nuisance Animal under Sec. 14-39. The owner is liable regardless of intent once two unrelated nearby residents file a sworn nuisance affidavit, and Animal Services Officers may then inspect every animal on the property. Fines reach $500.00 per citation.
Sarasota County Barking Dog Nuisance Rules
Some RestrictionsSarasota County Code § 14-39(a)(4), (b)
(a)The term "Public Nuisance Animal" shall mean and includes, but is not limited to, any Animal that:...(4)Makes excessive disturbing noises, including but not limited to continued or repeated howling, barking, whining or other utterances causing unreasonable annoyance, disturbance or discomfort to the neighbors or to others in close proximity to the premises where the Animal is kept or harbore...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
In unincorporated Sarasota County, an Amplification System, any device that boosts the human voice, music, or other sound, cannot push noise above 65 dBA (70 dBC) at a residential property line between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., dropping to 55 dBA (60 dBC) overnight. Deputies and Code Enforcement measure at the generating property's line before citing anyone under Sec. 54-118.
Sarasota County Amplified Sound and Music Limits
Some RestrictionsSarasota County Code Sec. 54-118(a), (c)
(1)Amplification System shall mean any machine or device used for the amplification of the human voice, music, or any other sound, or by which the human voice, music or any other sound is amplified.(2)Amplify shall mean to increase the strength, amount of, or loudness of a sound. ... (c)Maximum permissible sound levels by generating land use.(1)Continuous sound. The maximum decibel levels from ...
Aircraft Noise
Buildings built or substantially improved inside the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport's noise contours face sound-isolation standards tougher than the Florida Building Code, under Code § 22-36. The rule sets three tiers of interior noise reduction depending on distance from the runway, with exterior walls, windows, doors, and roofs all required to hit a minimum Sound Transmission Class.
Sarasota County Airport Noise Insulation Standards
Some RestrictionsSarasota County Code § 22-36(a), (d)(1)
(a)Airport noise control. It is the intent of this section to establish sound isolation requirements for exterior walls, roofs, doors, windows, and sloped glazing on buildings constructed within Airport Noise Contours established by the Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority. Due to the conditions existing within the Airport Noise Contours, it is necessary to adopt insulation requirements for these...
Decibel Limits
Sarasota County Code Sec. 54-118 sets hard decibel ceilings by land use and time of day for the unincorporated county: residential parcels top out at 65 dBA (70 dBC) by day and 55 dBA (60 dBC) at night, commercial/business and governmental parcels run higher, and intensive commercial/industrial sites are capped at 75 dBA (80 dBC) around the clock.
Sarasota County Noise Decibel Limits by Zone
Some RestrictionsSarasota County Code Sec. 54-118(c)
(c)Maximum permissible sound levels by generating land use.(1)Continuous sound. The maximum decibel levels from any activity (unless exempted) shall not exceed, at any point on the Generating Property's real property line, the sound level limits listed in Table I below... TABLE I Residential 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 65 70 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 55 60 Commercial/Business 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ...
Vehicle Noise
A car, truck, or boat in unincorporated Sarasota County is exempt from Sec. 54-118's decibel limits only while its manufacturer muffler and sound-reduction equipment are installed and working properly; a modified exhaust or blown muffler loses the exemption. A separate countywide rule bars unreasonable horn use and vehicle stereos loud enough to disturb neighbors.
Sarasota County Vehicle Muffler and Stereo Noise
Some RestrictionsSarasota County Code Sec. 54-118(d)(8); Sec. 54-153(b)(1)-(2)
(8)Motor vehicles and boats provided that they are functioning with all manufacturers' mufflers and sound reduction equipment installed and in proper operating condition. ... (16)Motor Vehicle shall mean any vehicle which is, or is designated to be, self-propelled or is designated or used for transporting person or property, including off-road vehicles being operated for recreational purposes, ...
Noise Ordinances by City in Sarasota County
2 cities in Sarasota County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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