Pasco County, FL Noise from Specific Sources: Generator Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Covers
- Pumps, well tips, generators run 24/7
- Barrier required
- 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily
- Barrier performance target
- 55 dBA or less at property line
- Exempt if
- Unshielded noise already under 55 dBA
- Citation
- Code § 66-97(2)(c)
Summary
Pasco County requires generators, well pumps and similar equipment that must run around the clock near homes to be shielded with an acoustical barrier between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. under Code § 66-97(2)(c), unless the unshielded noise already stays under 55 dBA at the nearest residential property line.
Construction equipment that must be operated near a residentially zoned area on a 24-hour-per-day basis (i.e., pumps, well tips, generators, etc.) shall be shielded by an acoustical barrier or enclosure during the hours of 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily, unless the unshielded noise level is less than 55 dBA, measured at the closest adjacent residentially zoned property line. The barrier or enclosure shall be so constructed and maintained as to reduce the noise level to 55 dBA or less, measured at the closest adjacent residentially zoned property line.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 94 Update 1 | Land Development Code: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
This rule sits inside Sec. 66-97's 'Construction noise' subsection, which separately requires mufflers on power-driven construction equipment (Sec. m. Monday through Saturday and all day Sunday (Sec. 66-97(2)(b)). The generator-specific clause, Sec. daily, unless the unshielded noise level is less than 55 dBA,' measured at the closest adjacent residentially zoned property line. Where a barrier is required, the code sets a performance standard rather than a design spec: the enclosure 'shall be so constructed and maintained as to reduce the noise level to 55 dBA or less' at that same property line.
window, daytime operation of the same 24-hour equipment isn't subject to this specific barrier standard, though it could still fall under the article's general 55 dBA daytime residential limits if it produces a disturbance. The rule applies countywide in unincorporated Pasco, covering job sites and utility work near homes in communities like Wesley Chapel, Land O' Lakes, and Trinity.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 66-97 doesn't spell out a specific fine for the generator-shielding requirement; violations of this noise division are enforced as general Code violations, typically through a county court citation issued under Sec. 1-11 of the Pasco County Code, the same enforcement path used elsewhere in Chapter 66. Only the radio/loudspeaker offense in a different subsection, Sec. 66-97(7), carries an explicit second-degree misdemeanor penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to shield a generator running near my Pasco County neighbors?
What decibel level must the barrier achieve?
Is daytime generator noise regulated the same way?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pasco County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Pasco County to another location·View the Florida 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.