Prince George's County, MD Noise from Specific Sources: Delivery Truck Noise (2026)

Section 19-122, in Subtitle 19's Division 2 noise control chapter, sets maximum allowable levels of 67 dBA daytime and 62 dBA nighttime for commercial receiving property, and 65/55 dBA for residential receiving property, under § 19-122(a)(1). Beyond the numeric table, § 19-122(b) separately bars any noise that creates a 'noise disturbance' as defined in § 19-121(11), meaning sound that is unpleasant, unusual for the time and place, or detrimental to a neighbor's use of property, regardless of the decibel reading. Section 19-122(c) lists illustrative acts that violate the section when either standard is crossed, and the fourth example is loading, unloading, opening, closing, or otherwise handling containers, building materials, construction equipment, or similar objects.

That example squarely covers a delivery truck's pallet jack, tailgate, roll-up door, or hand truck clattering against pavement outside a store or apartment building. Because commercial receiving property gets a 62 dBA nighttime ceiling versus 55 dBA for residential property, a truck idling or unloading against a home's property line at night is judged against the stricter residential number if that is where the noise is received, since § 19-122(a)(5) requires sound crossing into a residential area to meet the residential limit. is separately exempted under § 19-123(b)(16), but that exemption does not reach ordinary freight deliveries.

The Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement and county police both enforce the section and may measure sound at the property line using equipment meeting ANSI, ASTM, or EPA standards under § 19-126.