Wilmington, DE Noise from Specific Sources: Bar & Nightclub Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Business district night limit
- 65 dBA, 10 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Business district day limit
- 75 dBA, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
- First-offense fine
- $250 to $1,000
- Enforcing agency
- Licenses and inspections; police
- Measured at
- Neighboring property's boundary line
Summary
Wilmington caps nightlife noise at 65 dBA overnight and 75 dBA daytime in business districts, measured at the property line of neighboring receivers, with police and licensing enforcement.
No persons shall operate or cause to be operated any stationary source of sound in such a manner as to create a 24-hour equivalent A-weighted sound level which exceeds the leq limits set forth for the receiving land use category below and measured at the point of complaint origination within the property boundary of the receiving land use:a.Residence districts: 65 dBA between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., 55 dBA between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.b.Business districts: 75 dBA between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., 65 dBA between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
Bars, taverns and nightclubs in Wilmington are stationary noise sources under City Code § 11-65, which limits amplified sound in business districts to a 75 dBA equivalent level from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 65 dBA from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., measured at the property boundary of the complaining property. Section 11-60 separately bans exterior loudspeakers and sound 'plainly audible' beyond the property line at any hour. The department of licenses and inspections enforces the decibel standard; police enforce the plainly-audible rule. A special waiver from licenses and inspections can excuse an event for good cause.
Violations & Fines
First violation: $250 to $1,000. Second: $500 to $2,500. Third and later violations: $1,000 to $5,000, with each day a separate offense under § 11-59.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a bar in Wilmington be cited for loud music?
Can a nightclub get an exception for a loud event?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wilmington
Compare Wilmington to another location·View the Delaware noise from specific sources overview
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