Montgomery County, MD Noise from Specific Sources: Bar & Nightclub Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential limit
- 65 dBA day / 55 dBA night
- Non-residential limit
- 67 dBA day / 62 dBA night
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Environmental Protection
- Max penalty
- Class A violation, up to $1,000
- Citation trigger
- officer witness or 2 complaints
Summary
A bar or nightclub emitting noise above 65 dBA daytime / 55 dBA nighttime into a residential area, or 67/62 dBA into a non-residential area, violates Montgomery County's noise ordinance and can draw a civil citation.
(a) Maximum allowable noise levels. (1) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 31B-6(a), 31B-6A, and 31B-8, a person must not cause or permit noise levels that exceed the following levels: ... Non-residential noise area 67 62 ... Residential noise area 65 55 ... (b) Noise disturbance. A person must not cause or permit noise that creates a noise disturbance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-90: Montgomery County Code contains legislation effective through May 7, 2026 | Zoning Updated Effective: April 13, 2026 | COMCOR Regulations effective as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 31B sets numeric noise limits by receiving-area type and time of day, and separately bars any noise that creates a 'noise disturbance' -- sound that is unpleasant, annoying, or unusual for the time and place, regardless of decibel level. A prominent discrete tone or impulsive noise, such as a bass-heavy speaker system, must stay 5 dBA below the standard limit. The Department of Environmental Protection enforces the law; enforcement extends into Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Takoma Park only if those home-rule municipalities haven't exempted themselves under their own noise codes.
Violations & Fines
An enforcement officer can cite a bar or nightclub for exceeding the decibel limits on witnessing it, or after complaints from at least two witnesses to a noise disturbance; each day is a separate Class A violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this noise limit apply inside Rockville or Gaithersburg bars?
What if the music isn't that loud but neighbors still complain?
What's the maximum fine for a bar or nightclub noise violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montgomery County
Compare Montgomery County to another location·View the Maryland noise from specific sources overview
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