10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Sarasota County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Sarasota County, amplified sound not inside a fully enclosed building may not exceed 65 dBA between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., measured at the property line. This is the county's practical nighttime quiet-hours rule.
Sarasota County Code Sec. 54-118 (Sound control)
No person shall operate amplified sound not in a completely enclosed building that exceeds 65 dBA, 70 dBC, or has a 5 dB difference between the dBA and dBC sound levels, between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Construction, demolition, drilling, land clearing and filling operations may not run between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on weekdays, or between 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekends and holidays, in unincorporated Sarasota County.
Sarasota County Code Sec. 54-118 (Sound control)
Construction and land clearing operations between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. for which all required permits have been issued, provided that the equipment involved is operated in accord with the manufacturer's specifications and with all manufacturer's noise reducing equipment in use and in proper operating condition.
Sarasota County Code prohibits frequent or continuous noise by any animal or bird that disturbs the peace, quiet and comfort of neighboring inhabitants. There is no fixed minute-count; enforcement is by sworn complaint.
Sarasota County Code Sec. 54-153 (Prohibited conduct)
Prohibits frequent or continuous noise by any animal or bird in such manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of neighboring inhabitants.
Sarasota County has no separate leaf-blower ordinance. Gas leaf blowers are treated as general equipment noise under the Sec. 54-118 sound-control limits and the Sec. 54-153 prohibition on disturbing neighbors' peace and quiet.
Amplified sound outside a fully enclosed building may not exceed 65 dBA between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or 75 dBA (continuous) between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., measured beyond the property line, in unincorporated Sarasota County.
Sarasota County Code Sec. 54-118 (Sound control)
No person shall operate amplified sound not in a completely enclosed building that exceeds 65 dBA, 70 dBC, or has a 5 dB difference between the dBA and dBC sound levels, between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Sarasota County does not set aircraft noise limits. Aircraft in flight and airport operations are regulated by the FAA under federal law; the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority manages noise programs at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ).
Industrial and commercial noise in unincorporated Sarasota County is capped by Sec. 54-118's Table I dBA sound-level limits, which vary by zoning district and by daytime versus nighttime, measured at the generating property's line.
Sarasota County Code Sec. 54-118 (Sound control)
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.
Sarasota County sets numeric dBA limits at the property line: a general daytime continuous cap of 75 dBA (7:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.) and a 65 dBA nighttime cap for amplified sound (10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.). Measurements use ANSI Type II meters.
Sarasota County Code Sec. 54-118 (Sound control)
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.
Outdoor and open-air music is amplified sound 'not in a completely enclosed building,' so it must stay under 65 dBA after 10:00 p.m. and under 75 dBA (continuous) during the day, measured at the property line, in unincorporated Sarasota County.
Sarasota County restricts powered model vehicles (RC cars/boats/planes) near homes: prohibited 7:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m. weekdays and 7:00 p.m.-10:00 a.m. weekends/holidays within 50 yards of any residential property line. Motor-vehicle noise also falls under the sound-control limits.
Sarasota County Code Sec. 54-118 (Sound control)
Operating or permitting the operation of any powered model vehicle is prohibited between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. on weekends or holidays, in or within 50 yards of any residential real property line or noise sensitive area.
3 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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