Houston Code Chapter 30 limits construction equipment noise to 75 dBA at the property line during permitted hours. Work outside 7am-8pm requires noise variances; impulsive sounds face stricter rules.
Houston Code Chapter 30 sets a 75 dBA limit at the property line for construction equipment during permitted daytime hours of 7am to 8pm Monday-Saturday and 8am to 8pm Sunday. Pile driving, jackhammers, and impulsive sources face additional restrictions and dBC peak limits. Work outside permitted hours requires a noise variance from the Houston Health Department, typically granted only for traffic, utility, or emergency reasons. Equipment must comply with manufacturer mufflers and federal Noise Control Act EPA standards. Violations can be reported to 311. Multifamily projects in Midtown and Heights have driven enforcement; concrete pours and pile driving frequently require advance notice to neighbors.
Class C misdemeanor citations 200 to 1,000 dollars per violation per day. Repeat or after-hours violations may trigger stop-work orders and noise-variance revocation.
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