Columbus, IN Noise from Specific Sources: Delivery Truck Noise (2026)

The delivery and loading rule is § 8.28.040(F) of the Columbus Municipal Code, titled Loading and Unloading Boxes, adopted by the Common Council of the City of Columbus in Bartholomew County, Indiana. It prohibits the creation of loud and excessive noise in connection with loading or unloading any vehicle, and it extends to the opening and destruction of bales, boxes, crates or dumpsters. Because it says any vehicle, it reaches delivery trucks, box trucks and trailers at loading docks, curbs and parking lots alike.

The code carves out one exception: noise created by authorized city vehicles for the collection and disposal of waste, refuse, junk, scrap or other similar material items. Private haulers are not named in that exception, so only the city's own authorized collection vehicles are excused.

The code prints no decibel limit and no hours window for loading noise. The standard is loud and excessive noise, read with the chapter's definitions. Noise means any sound that annoys or disturbs persons of normal sensitivities, and unreasonable noise means sound of a volume, frequency or pattern that disrupts the comfort or repose of reasonable persons of ordinary sensitivities. Section 8.28.030 adds a general ban on loud, unnecessary, unusual or raucous noise that annoys or disturbs the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others within the limits of the city.

As with the rest of Chapter 8.28, § 8.28.050 lets any person file a written, oral or telephone complaint with the police department or the code enforcement office, which investigates as soon as reasonably practical and can issue a citation or notice. A person who makes unreasonable noise and keeps going after a police or code enforcement officer asks them to stop is in violation of disorderly conduct under I.C. 35-45-1-3(a)(2).