Lee County, FL Noise from Specific Sources: Generator Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code of Ordinances § 19-152(8)
- Testing hours
- 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Saturday
- Testing frequency/duration
- Once a week, 30 minutes max
- Holidays excluded
- Six named holidays
- Power outage use
- Exempt at Sheriff's Office discretion
- Waiver appeal
- Hearing Examiner, within 30 days
Summary
Lee County lets standby emergency generators be tested only between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, for no more than 30 minutes once a week, under Sec. 19-152(8)a. Generators run during an actual power outage are exempt from the noise ordinance entirely, at the Sheriff's Office's discretion.
(8)Noises resulting from:a.The regular maintenance testing of standby emergency power generators, provided that any sound attenuation proved by the manufacturer is retained, and provided that the noise occurs between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, excluding the following holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The frequency of the maintenance testing and the duration of each test shall be no more frequent and not longer in duration than 30 minutes once a week.b.Noise associated with emergency power generators in the event of a power outage at the discretion of the Sheriff's Office.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 7 | Land Development Code: Supplement 3 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
Section 19-152(8) of the Noise Control Ordinance carves standby generator noise out of the county's general decibel limits, but only within specific bounds. , Monday through Saturday, and it skips six holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The frequency and duration are capped too: testing cannot happen more than once a week, and each test cannot run longer than 30 minutes. Subsection (8)b separately exempts generator noise during an actual power outage, but leaves that call to the discretion of the Lee County Sheriff's Office rather than granting an automatic exemption.
A property owner or business that needs to run a generator outside these windows, such as a data center or medical facility with different testing needs, can apply in writing to the County Manager for a waiver under Sec. 19-153; waivers can run up to 180 days, are renewable, and any denial can be appealed to the Lee County Hearing Examiner within 30 days of the written decision.
Violations & Fines
Testing a generator outside the 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-through-Saturday window, running it longer than 30 minutes, or testing it more than once a week falls outside the Sec. 19-152(8) exception and is enforced as an ordinary noise violation under Sec. 19-150, punishable under Sec. 1-7's general penalty: up to a $500.00 fine, 60 days in the County Jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I test my whole-house generator on a Sunday?
How long can I legally run a generator test each week?
Can I run my generator all night during a hurricane outage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lee County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Lee 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.