Birmingham, AL Noise from Specific Sources: Delivery Truck Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Restricted hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Buffer from housing
- Within 500 ft of residential zoning
- Covers
- Refuse trucks, compactors, loading/unloading
- Exemption
- City safety/sanitation crews
- Governing sections
- City Code Sec. 11-8-23(11), (12)
Summary
Birmingham bans refuse collection and loading/unloading noise, including box and crate handling, between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. within 500 feet of a residentially zoned district. City sanitation crews are exempt, but private delivery and refuse operators are not.
(11)Refuse collection vehicles. Operating or permitting the operation of:a.Any vehicle for collection and hauling of refuse between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in or within 500 feet of a residentially zoned district.b.The compacting mechanism of any motor vehicle which compacts refuse between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in or within 500 feet of a residentially zoned district. City crews and equipment used to provide necessary safety and sanitation services shall be exempted from the operation of this provision. (12)Loading and unloading.a.Loading, unloading, opening, closing, destruction or other handling of boxes, crates, containers, building materials, garbage cans, or other similar objects between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in or within 500 feet of a residentially zoned district.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 3).
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. 11-8-23(11) and (12), in Article B (Noises) of Chapter 8, single out two related sources of overnight commercial noise. in or within 500 feet of a residentially zoned district (defined at Sec. 11-8-22 as E-1, R-1 through R-8 zoning). window to loading, unloading, opening, closing, destruction or other handling of boxes, crates, containers, building materials or garbage cans within 500 feet of a residential district, covering exactly the kind of dock-and-dolly noise that comes with overnight commercial deliveries. m. Sec. 11-8-24 directs enforcement to weigh the volume, proximity to sleeping facilities, zoning density, time of night and whether the noise is recurring when deciding if a complaint against a delivery operator or contractor is substantiated.
Sec. 11-8-21 frames the whole article's purpose: prohibiting unreasonable noise or noise disturbances that are detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the citizenry and their right to peaceful and quiet enjoyment, in order to secure the public health, comfort, convenience, safety and welfare of city residents.
Violations & Fines
Violations of Sec. 11-8-23(11)-(12) carry the general municipal penalty under Sec. 1-1-6: a fine up to $500.00 and/or up to six months in city jail, workhouse or hard labor on the streets or public works. Sec. 1-1-7 makes each day of continued nighttime loading or refuse noise a separate, chargeable offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a delivery truck unload boxes at a Birmingham business at midnight near houses?
Are city garbage trucks allowed to run early morning routes near homes?
What is the residential buffer distance for this nighttime noise rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Birmingham
Compare Birmingham to another location·View the Alabama noise from specific sources overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Delivery Truck Noise in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jefferson County handle delivery truck noise.