Coconut Creek, FL Noise from Specific Sources: Low-Frequency Bass Limits (2026)

Coconut Creek rewrote its noise article on May 26, 2022 (Ord. No. 2022-008), and low frequency sound is named in the definition of noise itself in Section 14-26. The definition reaches low frequency sounds that can induce vibration in structures or human beings, so a subwoofer thumping through a shared wall is inside the article even when the audible level is modest. Section 14-26 also defines the C-weighted sound level (dBC) and impulsive sound, which is sound of short duration per interval, usually less than one second, with an abrupt onset and rapid decay. Impulsive sound can be measured in the C-weighting network on the fast meter response.

Section 14-29(b) lets the city measure with a meter as an alternative to the officer's ear. Impulsive noise, including drums and guitars, can be read on the C-scale, averaged over three minutes (three-minute LCeq). The reading is taken at the receiving property line, at least five feet above ground and, where practical, ten feet from walls or other reflecting structures. For an elevated or directional source, compliance must hold at any elevation at the boundary.

Section 14-30 supplies the limits, stated in dBA/dBC. Between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 11:59 p.m. Friday into 9:00 a.m. Saturday and 11:59 p.m. Saturday into 9:00 a.m. Sunday, single-family districts are held to 5 dBA/dBC above ambient or 60 dBA/dBC, whichever is greater. A source that emits a pure tone has each limit cut by five. The article prints no bass-only or subwoofer-only decibel figure, so the same table governs. The violation threshold is a continued duration, defined as fifteen minutes or more without interruption.