Boston, MA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)

Section 16-26.6(A) makes it unlawful in a residential area "to disturb the peace by causing or allowing to be made any unreasonable or excessive noise," expressly including noise "from the playing of any band or orchestra, or from the use of any device to amplify the aforesaid noise... or any other excessive noise by a person or group of persons." The Section carves out one exemption: "any performance, concert, establishment, band, group or person who has received and maintains a valid license or permit from any Department, Board or Commission of the city authorized to issue such license or permit shall be exempt." For everyone else, "unreasonable or excessive noise" is defined the same way as the general rule, over 50 dBa between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or over 70 dBa the rest of the day, "measured not closer than the lot line of a residential lot or from the nearest affected dwelling unit."

Subsection (B) sets the enforcement path: a resident bothered by outdoor music can complain to Police, who must verify the reading with an ANSI-calibrated sound level meter before acting, and who may then arrest the performer or apply for a criminal complaint under M.G.L. Chapter 272, Section 53, the state disturbing-the-peace statute, rather than a simple civil fine.