Noise Ordinances in Yakima County, WA (2026)
5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Yakima County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Washington's Department of Ecology noise regulation, WAC 173-60-040, sets Yakima County's quiet hours: between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., every decibel limit that otherwise applies to a residential (Class A) property drops by 10 dBA, on top of the daytime limits that already range from 55 to 70 dBA depending on zoning.
Yakima County Nighttime Noise Limits
Some RestrictionsWAC 173-60-040
(1) 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. (2)(a) The noise limitations established are as set forth in the following table after any applicable adjustments provided for herein are applied. ... (b) Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the noise limitat...
Construction Hours
Yakima County's noise chapter sets no construction hours window. Section 6.28.040(12) exempts sounds created by construction or refuse removal equipment from Chapter 6.28 altogether, with no time of day attached. The plainly audible and annoyance tests that govern other sound in the unincorporated area do not reach the equipment itself.
Yakima County Construction Noise Exemption
Few RestrictionsYakima County Code § 6.28.040(12), (18); § 6.28.060
The following sounds are exempt from the provisions of this chapter: ... (12) Sounds created by construction or refuse removal equipment; ... (18) Sounds created by lawfully established commercial and industrial uses. ... Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall, upon a finding of having committed the civil infraction thereof, be punished by a civil penalty not to exceed fiv...
Barking Dogs
In unincorporated Yakima County, keeping a dog that habitually barks, growls, yelps, howls or whines loudly enough to disturb the peace and quiet of neighbors violates Yakima County Code section 8.36.260. Each violation draws a $125 fine, enforced by the Sheriff's Office or Yakima Humane Society. Guard dogs responding to an intruder are exempt.
Yakima County Barking Dog Noise Ban
Some RestrictionsYakima County Code Section 8.36.260
(1) It is unlawful for any owner in control of premises to keep, harbor or maintain thereon any dog or dogs which individually or together habitually bark, growl, yelp, howl or whine so loudly and for such a duration of time as to unreasonably disturb the peace, quiet, comfort and repose of others within the unincorporated area of Yakima County. Any person found guilty of a violation of this se...
Leaf Blower Rules
Yakima County exempts sounds created by lawn and garden equipment from its noise chapter from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. under § 6.28.040(17). The code never names leaf blowers and draws no gas versus electric line. Outside that window the item (17) exemption stops, and the tests in § 6.28.030 are what remain unless another exemption fits.
Yakima County Lawn & Garden Equipment Noise Hours
Light RestrictionsYakima County Code § 6.28.030(1)-(2); § 6.28.040(17); § 6.28.060
(1) It is unlawful for any person to make, continue, or cause to be made or continued or any person in possession of property to make, continue, or cause to be made or continued or allow to originate from the property any sound which: (a) Is plainly audible within any dwelling unit which is not the source of the sound or is generated within two hundred feet of any dwelling unit; (b) Either anno...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Yakima County has no decibel limit for amplified music. Section 6.28.030 bars any sound plainly audible inside a neighbor's dwelling unit or generated within two hundred feet of one, and § 6.28.040(16) exempts only unamplified voices from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Permitted festivals are exempt from Chapter 6.28 from 6:00 a.m. to 12:01 a.m. under § 8.10.110.
Yakima County Amplified Sound & Festival Noise Rules
Some RestrictionsYakima County Code § 6.28.030(1)-(2); § 6.28.040(16); § 8.10.110
(1) It is unlawful for any person to make, continue, or cause to be made or continued or any person in possession of property to make, continue, or cause to be made or continued or allow to originate from the property any sound which: (a) Is plainly audible within any dwelling unit which is not the source of the sound or is generated within two hundred feet of any dwelling unit; (b) Either anno...
Noise Ordinances by City in Yakima County
1 cities in Yakima County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Yakima County ordinances
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