Multnomah County, OR Noise from Specific Sources: Delivery Truck Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Nighttime limit
- 50 dBA, 10 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Daytime limit
- 60 dBA, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Applies when
- Truck off the public right-of-way
- Enforced by
- Sheriff's Office, Class A violation
- Scope
- Unincorporated county only, not Portland
Summary
The county's Sound Control Law treats a delivery truck's engine or exhaust as a regulated sound source once it's parked off the public street: capping noise at 50 dBA overnight and 60 dBA by day near homes, but only in unincorporated Multnomah County, not Portland.
It shall be unlawful for any person to produce or permit to be produced, with a sound producing device, sound which: (A) ... exceeds: (1) Fifty dBA at any time between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day; or (2) Sixty dBA at any time between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. the same day;
Full Breakdown
Multnomah County's Sound Control Law (Ch. 15) lists vehicle engines and exhausts among the 'sound producing devices' it regulates, but only when the vehicle isn't on a public right-of-way: a delivery truck idling at a warehouse dock or business lot, not one driving down the road, per § 15.266(5). Under § 15.269(A), sound from such a device can't exceed 50 dBA at a noise-sensitive building between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., or 60 dBA between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. The Sheriff's Office enforces it as a Class A violation under § 15.999. The law applies only in unincorporated county areas; Portland, Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview and Wood Village handle noise under their own codes.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the 50/60 dBA limits, or being plainly audible inside a nearby home after 10 p.m., is a Class A violation under § 15.999; the Sheriff can seize the offending device under § 15.273.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this cover delivery trucks driving on the street?
Does this apply if I live in Portland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Multnomah County
Compare Multnomah County to another location·View the Oregon 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 If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.