Grant County, WA Noise from Specific Sources: Generator Noise (2026)

Grant County Code 6.24.040 bans creating a public noise disturbance or motor vehicle noise disturbance anywhere in unincorporated Grant County, covering sounds that unreasonably interfere with the peace and comfort of neighbors, including frequent barking animals, security alarms running more than thirty minutes, and repetitive noise from residential gatherings (GCC 6.24.020). Section 6.24.050 then lists twenty-six categories of sound exempt at all hours, from aircraft and railroads to agricultural activity and lawful fireworks. Item (26) covers generators: sounds they create are exempt around the clock whenever the primary utility has no power available because of a natural disaster or outage.

That is broader than the exemptions in subsections (b) and (c), which only excuse construction noise, blasting, and target practice between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Once utility power is restored, the outage-based exemption ends, and ordinary generator noise can again be measured against the general disturbance standard in 6.24.040 if it unreasonably interferes with a neighbor's peace and comfort. The Grant County Sheriff's Office and other Washington law enforcement agencies enforce Chapter 6.24 under GCC 6.24.030, with cases proceeding through Grant County District Court. A person cited under this chapter who fails to sign the ticket is separately guilty of a misdemeanor under GCC 6.24.060.