Noise Ordinances in Thurston County, WA (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Thurston County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Thurston County caps outdoor sound at 45 dBA from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. at neighboring property, dropping from the 55 dBA daytime limit.
Thurston County Nighttime Noise Limit
Some RestrictionsThurston County Code § 10.36.030(B)
Is caused by the operation of any device designed for sound production or reproduction, such as but not limited to radios, televisions, musical instruments, phonographs, stereos and loudspeakers that exceeds fifty-five dBA between the hours of seven a.m. and ten p.m. and forty-five dBA between the hours of ten p.m. and seven a.m., measured at any adjacent parcel or public right-of-way; or C. ...
Construction Hours
Thurston County exempts construction-site noise from its public disturbance noise limits only between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.; outside that window construction sounds lose the exemption.
Thurston County Construction Noise Hours
Some RestrictionsThurston County Code § 10.36.040(H)
The following sounds are exempt from the provisions of this chapter: A. Sounds created by fire alarms; B. Sounds created by emergency equipment and emergency work necessary in the interests of law enforcement or of the health, safety or welfare of the community; C. Sounds created by off-highway vehicles while being used in officially designated off-road vehicle parks; D. Sounds created ...
Barking Dogs
Thurston County makes a "nuisance pet animal" a code violation: Section 9.10.030 defines the term as a pet that habitually or continually disturbs the peace of any person or neighborhood by barking, whining, howling, or making other noise, and Section 9.10.050(B) makes the owner liable. A first violation is a Class 4 civil infraction; a second or later violation escalates to a Class 3 infraction.
Thurston County Nuisance Barking Dog Rule
Some RestrictionsThurston County Code §§ 9.10.030, 9.10.050(B)
"Nuisance pet animal" means a pet animal that habitually or continually disturbs the peace and quiet of any individual or neighborhood by barking, whining, howling or making any other noise (domestic animals are exempted from this provision). ...B.Nuisance Pet Animal. Such person's pet animal constitutes a nuisance pet animal as defined in Section 9.10.030. A first violation of nuisance pet ani...
Leaf Blower Rules
Thurston County exempts yard maintenance equipment, including leaf blowers, from its noise limits only between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.; outside that window the county's dBA limits apply.
Thurston County Leaf Blower Noise Hours
Some RestrictionsThurston County Code § 10.36.040(E)
Sounds created by yard maintenance equipment utilized for yard maintenance purposes between the hours of seven a.m. and ten p.m.; F. Sounds created by uses or activities for which required federal, state and/or local governmental approval has been obtained; G. Sounds originating from residential property relating to temporary projects for the maintenance or repair of homes, grounds and appu...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Thurston County requires a permit before holding any outdoor music festival outside city limits, with mandatory distance, hours, and safety conditions.
Thurston County Outdoor Music Festival Permit
Significant RestrictionsThurston County Code § 10.64.030
No person, persons, partnership, corporation, association, society, fraternal or social organization shall: (1)Allow, conduct, hold, maintain, permit or participate in a music festival, without the limits of incorporated cities or towns in Thurston County, unless a valid permit has been obtained for the operation of such music festival; or(2)Encourage, promote or cause to be advertised a mus...
Decibel Limits
Thurston County caps industrial and commercial noise at the property line using Washington's state EDNA noise classes, not a flat local decibel number.
Thurston County industrial noise limits
Some RestrictionsThurston County Code § 21.57.030
A. The maximum allowable noise levels as measured at the property line of noise impacted uses or activities shall be those set forth in the Washington Administrative Code, Chapter 173-60, titled "Maximum Environmental Noise Levels," which chapter is incorporated by reference. B. The "Environmental Designation for Noise Abatement" (EDNA) for the several land use classifications of this title sha...
Vehicle Noise
Thurston County requires every motor vehicle on a county highway to run a muffler in good working order at all times, banning cut-outs, bypass pipes and similar devices. The same chapter separately outlaws compression (engine/Jake) brake use on 26 named roads as a public nuisance, both backed by misdemeanor penalties.
Thurston County Vehicle Muffler & Brake Noise Law
Some RestrictionsThurston County Code § 12.37.205(A)-(B); § 12.37.197(B),(C),(E); § 12.37.005(1)
12.37.205 - Mufflers, prevention of noise and smoke. A. Every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke, and no person shall use a muffler cut-out, bypass or similar device upon a motor vehicle on a highway. B. The engine and power mechanism of every motor vehicle shall be ...
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