Wilmington, DE Noise from Specific Sources: Low-Frequency Bass Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Infrasound limit
- 100 dBA below 16 Hz
- Enforcing agency
- Licenses and Inspections Dept.
- First-offense fine
- $250 to $1,000
- Repeat-offense fine
- up to $5,000
- Measured at
- complaining property line
Summary
Wilmington limits low-frequency infrasound below 16 hertz to 100 dBA measured at the complaining property, a specific standard aimed at deep bass and subwoofer noise that carries through walls and across yards where ordinary A-weighted limits don't fit.
Any source of sound which emits infrasound (below 16 hertz) or ultrasound (above 20 KHz) frequencies shall not exceed 100 dBA when measured at the point of complaint origination within the receiving property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 11-65(b)(4) sets a numeric ceiling for infrasound (below 16 Hz) and ultrasound (above 20 kHz) at 100 dBA, measured at the point of complaint origination on the receiving property. This sits alongside the general ban on plainly audible amplified sound (radios, stereos, subwoofers) across property lines in § 11-60(c)(2). The Department of Licenses and Inspections enforces § 11-65 using an ANSI-certified sound level meter; the police department enforces § 11-60.
Violations & Fines
First offense: fine of $250 to $1,000. Second offense: $500 to $2,500. Third and later offenses: $1,000 to $5,000. Each day of continued violation counts as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wilmington have a specific rule for deep bass or subwoofer noise?
Who enforces Wilmington's low-frequency noise limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wilmington
Compare Wilmington to another location·View the Delaware noise from specific sources overview
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