5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Washington County, Arkansas.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Washington County has no noise ordinance of its own, so the Sheriff enforces Arkansas's disorderly-conduct statute, Ark. Code 5-71-207. Inside the cities quiet hours differ: Fayetteville targets 1 a.m. to 8 a.m., while Springdale runs closer to 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Ark. Code § 5-71-207
A person commits the offense of disorderly conduct if, with the purpose to cause public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm or recklessly creating a risk of public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, he or she: ... (2) Makes unreasonable or excessive noise ... Disorderly conduct is a Class C misdemeanor.
Neither Arkansas nor Washington County sets construction hours for unincorporated areas, so powered-work limits come from each city. Fayetteville bars construction noise near homes from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.; off-hours noise elsewhere is enforceable under state law.
Ark. Code § 5-71-207
A person commits the offense of disorderly conduct if, with the purpose to cause public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm or recklessly creating a risk of public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, he or she: ... (2) Makes unreasonable or excessive noise ... Disorderly conduct is a Class C misdemeanor.
Chronic barking is handled by each Washington County city's animal control and nuisance ordinance. The unincorporated county has no noise ordinance, so the Sheriff falls back on Arkansas's disorderly-conduct law, Ark. Code 5-71-207, for extreme, sustained barking.
Ark. Code § 5-71-207
A person commits the offense of disorderly conduct if, with the purpose to cause public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm or recklessly creating a risk of public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, he or she: ... (2) Makes unreasonable or excessive noise ... Disorderly conduct is a Class C misdemeanor.
No Washington County city singles out leaf blowers, and Arkansas has no statewide equipment ban. Gas and electric blowers are legal in Fayetteville, Springdale, and the unincorporated county, subject only to general noise and quiet-hour limits.
Amplified music in Washington County is governed by each city's noise ordinance and, in the unincorporated county, by Arkansas's disorderly-conduct statute. Public events need city permits; private parties need none but cannot make unreasonable noise.
Ark. Code § 5-71-207
A person commits the offense of disorderly conduct if, with the purpose to cause public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm or recklessly creating a risk of public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, he or she: ... (2) Makes unreasonable or excessive noise ... Disorderly conduct is a Class C misdemeanor.
1 cities in Washington County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Washington County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
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