Arvada, CO Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Arvada, CO, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Construction noise curfew
- 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Daytime noise cap
- 70 dB(A), light industrial standard
- Nighttime noise cap
- 65 dB(A), light industrial standard
- Emergency work exemption
- § 38-63, safety restoration work
- Public infrastructure exemption
- § 38-65, city/public-works projects
Summary
Arvada bars construction equipment noise in residential, commercial, and mixed-use zoning districts between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. under City Code § 38-62(2). During permitted daytime hours, a construction project's noise is capped at the sound-pressure level allowed for light industrial districts under the citywide table in § 38-91.
Construction activities. Between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., no person shall operate, or cause to be used or operated, any equipment used in construction activities within any residential, commercial or mixed-use zoning district. Construction projects shall be subject to the maximum permissible noise level specified for light industrial districts for the period within which construction is to be completed pursuant to any applicable building permit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: City Council Policy Manual: Supplement 1 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 67).
Full Breakdown
m. and 65 dB(A) overnight, for the duration set by any applicable building permit. Two exceptions apply: emergency work performed for the immediate safety, health, or welfare of the community, or to restore property to a safe condition, is exempt from the entire noise chapter under § 38-63, and noise from maintenance, construction, repair, or improvement of a public road or public facility by the city, a public-works contractor, or an agent under public direction is exempt under § 38-65. A contractor who needs relief beyond these limits can apply to the city manager for a hardship permit under § 38-35.
Violations & Fines
Running construction equipment in a residential, commercial, or mixed-use district between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. violates § 38-62(2) even if no neighbor complains, and exceeding the light-industrial decibel table during the day is a separate violation of § 38-91. Both are enforced under the chapter's general penalty, § 38-33, applying the § 1-5 fine schedule of up to $2,650 or 364 days in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time can construction noise start in Arvada?
Are there exceptions to Arvada's construction noise hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arvada
How Arvada compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Arvada to another location·View the Colorado noise ordinances overview
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Construction Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jefferson County handle construction hours.