Noise Ordinances in Washington County, OR (2026)
8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Washington County, Oregon.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
From 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., Washington County Code § 8.24.040(B) and (D) bar plainly audible radios, TVs, stereos and loudspeakers, plus yelling, shouting or singing on public streets. The rule applies only in unincorporated areas: cities like Hillsboro and Beaverton run their own nighttime noise codes.
Washington County Nighttime Noise Curfew
Some RestrictionsWashington County Code § 8.24.040(B), (D)
B.Radios, Phonographs, Etc. The using, operation or permitting to be used, played or operated any radio receiving set, television set, musical instrument, phonograph, compact disc player, loudspeaker or other machine or device, for the production or reproduction of sound between the hours of ten p.m. and seven a.m. in such a manner as to be plainly audible upon a public street or within a noise...
Construction Hours
Washington County bars construction, excavation, demolition and repair work between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weekdays, from 7 p.m. Saturday through 7 a.m. Monday, and on legal holidays, under County Code § 8.24.040(F)-(G). The same curfew covers piledrivers, pneumatic hammers and heavy equipment. This applies only in unincorporated Washington County. Hillsboro, Beaverton and other cities enforce their own construction-hour rules.
Construction Noise Hours in Washington County
Some RestrictionsWashington County Code § 8.24.040(F)-(G)
F.Construction or Repairing of Structures. The erection (including excavating), demolition, alteration or repair of any structure from seven p.m. to seven a.m. the following morning, and from seven p.m. Saturday to seven a.m. the following Monday, and on legal holidays except by variance or for reasons of emergency;G.Piledrivers, Hammers, Etc. The operation between the hours of seven p.m. and s...
Barking Dogs
Washington County Code 6.04.260 defines 'continuous annoyance' as repeated barking, whining, screeching, or howling from a dog that can be reasonably heard beyond the property line. After a written warning notice giving the owner 120 hours to abate, letting the dog keep barking five or more minutes out of any 15-minute stretch becomes a Class C civil infraction.
Washington County Bars Continuous Dog Barking
Some RestrictionsWashington County Code § 6.04.260
(1)Continuous Annoyance means any repeated barking, whining, screeching, howling, or other sounds caused by a dog or dogs which can be reasonably heard beyond the boundary of the dog owner's property.(2)Whenever an animal services officer has reasonable grounds to believe a dog has caused a continuous annoyance, written notice may be delivered to the dog owner or mailed to the resident of premi...
Leaf Blower Rules
Washington County Code § 8.24.040(H) doesn't set leaf-blower hours: it requires every blower or power fan to be 'properly muffled' with a muffler device sufficient to reduce noise, at any time of day. An unmuffled blower is a prima facie noise violation in unincorporated Washington County, enforced the same as the rest of Chapter 8.24.
Washington County Blower Muffling Rule
Light RestrictionsWashington County Code § 8.24.040(H)
H.Blowers and Motor-Driven Cycles. The operation of any blower or power fan unless the noise from such blower or fan is properly muffled and such engine is equipped with a muffler device sufficient to reduce such noise.
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Amplified sound in unincorporated Washington County is regulated under the county noise ordinance and ORS 467, with outdoor amplification at public venues and events requiring a special event or temporary use permit through Land Use & Transportation. Cities within the county (Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tualatin) layer their own amplification permit systems on top.
noise/amplified-music
Some RestrictionsOregon Revised Statutes Chapter 467 — Noise Control, ORS 467.020, 467.100, and 467.990
467.020 Prohibition on emission of noise in excess of prescribed levels. Except as provided in ORS 467.131 and 467.133, no person may emit, cause the emission of, or permit the emission of noise in excess of the levels fixed therefor by the Environmental Quality Commission pursuant to ORS 467.030. [1971 c.452 §3; 1995 s.s. c.3 §40c; 1996 c.8 §2] [...] 467.100 Local regulation of noise sources; ...
Aircraft Noise
In unincorporated Washington County land near Stark's Twin Oaks Airpark, the Public Use Airport Safety and Compatibility Overlay District requires noise-sensitive buildings (homes, schools, hospitals, libraries) inside the 55 LDN noise contour to include a noise abatement design that keeps indoor noise at or below 55 LDN before a building permit issues.
Washington County Airport Noise Building Rules
Some RestrictionsWashington County Community Development Code § 388-7.A
Within airport noise impact boundaries, land uses shall be established consistent with the levels identified in OAR 660, Division 13, Exhibit 5. A declaration of anticipated noise levels shall be attached to any Standard Subdivision or Standard Partition approval or other land use approval or building permit affecting land within identified airport noise impact boundaries. In areas where the no...
Decibel Limits
Piledrivers, pneumatic hammers, hoists and other heavy equipment can't run between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. in unincorporated Washington County, and construction, demolition or excavation is barred nights and all weekend, unless the operator has a noise variance.
Washington County Construction & Industrial Noise
Some RestrictionsWashington County Code § 8.24.040(F)-(H) — Enumeration of Acts in Violation
F.Construction or Repairing of Structures. The erection (including excavating), demolition, alteration or repair of any structure from seven p.m. to seven a.m. the following morning, and from seven p.m. Saturday to seven a.m. the following Monday, and on legal holidays except by variance or for reasons of emergency;G.Piledrivers, Hammers, Etc. The operation between the hours of seven p.m. and s...
Vehicle Noise
Washington County Code § 8.24.040(A), (C) and (E) bar unnecessary horn use, exhaust brakes except for emergency stops, and any vehicle exhaust discharged without an effective muffler. Violations are prima facie noise offenses enforced under the unincorporated-county noise chapter, separate from state vehicle-equipment statutes that also apply.
Vehicle Noise Rules in Washington County
Some RestrictionsWashington County Code § 8.24.040(A), (C), (E)
A.Horns, Signaling Devices, Etc. Sounding of any horn or signaling device on any automobile, motorcycle, or other vehicle on any street or public place in the county, except as a danger warning; the creation by means of any signaling device of any unreasonably loud or harsh sound; and the sounding of any such device for an unnecessary and unreasonable period of time;C.Exhaust Brakes. The use of...
Noise Ordinances by City in Washington County
2 cities in Washington County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Washington County ordinances
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