10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Spokane County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Spokane County regulates noise under SCC Chapter 6.12. Amplified sound and other repetitive noise that disturbs a reasonable person is prohibited, and Washington's WAC 173-60 environmental limits drop 10 dBA at night (10 p.m.-7 a.m.) in residential areas.
WAC 173-60-040
No person shall cause or permit noise to intrude into the property of another person which noise exceeds the maximum permissible noise levels set forth below in this section... Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the noise limitations of the foregoing table shall be reduced by 10 dBA for receiving property within Class A EDNAs.
In unincorporated Spokane County, temporary construction noise is exempt from the noise ordinance only between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., or at any hour if the work is more than 1,000 feet from any residence. Outside those hours it can be a violation.
SCC 6.12.020
The following noise disturbances are exempt from the provisions of County Code Section 6.12.010 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. or when conducted beyond one thousand feet of any residence where human beings reside and sleep at any hour... sounds originating from temporary construction sites.
Spokane County treats habitual barking as an animal noise nuisance under SCC Title 5 (Animals), enforced by SCRAPS. Howling, whining or barking that unreasonably disturbs people is prohibited at any hour, not just at night.
Spokane County has no leaf-blower-specific ordinance. Leaf blowers are treated like any other noise source: they must not create a disturbance under SCC 6.12 and must stay within the WAC 173-60 residential noise limits, which tighten 10 dBA at night.
Under SCC 6.12, amplified sound from a radio, TV, musical instrument or speaker that emanates repeatedly from a residence and disturbs a reasonable person is a noise disturbance. State WAC 173-60 also caps sound crossing into a neighbor's home.
Aircraft noise is regulated by the FAA, not by Spokane County. WAC 173-60 expressly exempts aircraft in flight, so the county sets no local aircraft-noise rule. Spokane International Airport (a county-city authority) handles noise programs; complaints go to the airport or FAA.
Industrial and commercial noise reaching homes in Spokane County is governed by WAC 173-60. An industrial (Class C) source may emit up to 60 dBA at a residence, 65 dBA at commercial property, and 70 dBA at another industrial property, with a 10 dBA night reduction for residential receivers.
WAC 173-60-040
Class C (industrial) source EDNA to Class A receiving: 60 dBA; to Class B receiving: 65; to Class C receiving: 70. Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the noise limitations of the foregoing table shall be reduced by 10 dBA for receiving property within Class A EDNAs.
Spokane County applies Washington's WAC 173-60 environmental noise limits. Sound crossing into a residence (Class A EDNA) may not exceed 55 dBA during the day, dropping to 45 dBA between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Higher limits apply to commercial (57-60) and industrial (60-70) receiving property.
WAC 173-60-040
No person shall cause or permit noise to intrude into the property of another person which noise exceeds the maximum permissible noise levels... At any hour of the day or night the applicable noise limitations... may be exceeded... by no more than: 5 dBA for a total of 15 minutes in any one-hour period; or 10 dBA for a total of 5 minutes...; or 15 dBA for a total of 1.5 minutes...
Outdoor music, parties and live events in unincorporated Spokane County must not create a noise disturbance under SCC 6.12 and must stay within WAC 173-60 limits. There is no county-issued residential party-noise permit; large events may need county event approval.
Motor-vehicle noise in Spokane County is governed by statewide standards in WAC 173-62, not the county noise ordinance (SCC 6.12 exempts vehicles regulated by WAC 173-62). Cars under 10,000 lbs are capped at 72 dBA at 35 mph or less, measured at 50 feet.
WAC 173-62-030
Automobiles, light trucks and all other motor vehicles 10,000 pounds (4536 kg) GVWR or less: 45 mph (72 kph) or less - 72 dBA; over 45 mph (72 kph) - 78 dBA. Motorcycles: 45 mph (72 kph) or less - 78 dBA; over 45 mph (72 kph) - 82 dBA.
1 cities in Spokane County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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