Bonita Springs, FL Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)

The hour limits are in section 20-22(1)c.2 of the Bonita Springs noise article, adopted by Ordinance No. 14-027 on November 6, 2014. Subsection i bars the construction, erection, demolition, alteration or repair of any building or structure, or any excavation, within or adjacent to any residential area before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. On Sundays and legal holidays the work is prohibited at any time. The clock rule applies whether or not a sound meter reading is taken, so a crew that starts at 6:45 a.m. near homes has violated the article regardless of decibel level.

Separate from the hours, no one can operate power-driven construction equipment without a muffler or other noise-reduction device at least as effective as the manufacturer recommends or provided as original equipment, unless the sound emitted is below the Table 1 limit for the receiving land use. For residential receiving land, Table 1 sets 66 dBA from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 55 dBA from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Subsection ii covers equipment that must run around the clock near homes, such as pumps, well tips and generators: it must be shielded by a barrier from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. unless the unshielded noise level is under 55 dBA at the residential property line.

Two carve-outs apply. Routine household maintenance and the use of domestic power tools for it are outside the construction rule, and work by a public service utility, or another contractor the city approves, to address or prevent a public emergency, including traffic control, is exempt. Section 20-23(4) separately allows lawn care and similar normal community operations from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. under manufacturer specifications.

Section 20-24 lets the city manager or designee grant a written waiver within 30 days of application, for no longer than 180 days and renewable, with conditions attached. An applicant can appeal to the city council within 30 days of the written decision. Section 20-25 has the Lee County Sheriff's Office investigate alleged violations.