Cambridge, MA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Cambridge, MA, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Weekday quiet hours
- 6 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Weekend/holiday quiet hours
- 6 p.m. to 9 a.m.
- Residential daytime device cap
- 75 dB(A) L10 / 86 dB(A) max
- Governing sections
- §§ 8.16.080.F, 8.16.070
- Fine per violation
- $300 per day
Summary
Cambridge bars audible construction, drilling or demolition noise on weekdays from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m., and from 6 p.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Monday-adjacent weekends and holidays, under Municipal Code § 8.16.080.F, on top of separate decibel caps for daytime construction devices.
F.Construction. Operating or permitting the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling, or demolition work:1.Between the hours of six p.m. and seven a.m. the following day on weekdays, or between the hours of six p.m. and nine a.m. the following day when the following day is a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, such that the sound therefrom is plainly audible at a distance of fifty feet from the lot line of the lot on which said activity is located, or within a noise sensitive zone, except for emergency work of public service utilities or by special variance issued pursuant to subsection B of Section 8.16.090
Full Breakdown
the following day when the following day is a Saturday, Sunday or holiday,' if the sound is plainly audible 50 feet from the lot line or within a noise sensitive zone. L. 070 caps daytime construction-device noise by the affected lot's use: an L10 level of 75 dB(A) and a maximum of 86 dB(A) at a residential lot line, 80 dB(A) L10 at business or office lots, and 85 dB(A) L10 at industrial lots, measured at least 50 feet from the device. C.
Violations & Fines
A contractor or property owner violating the after-hours ban faces a $300 citation for each day the violation continues under G.L. c. 40 § 21D, or misdemeanor prosecution with a $300 fine under Section 8.16.040(C). Enforcement officials, the Police Commissioner, the Commissioner of Inspectional Services, or the License Commission chair, can also order the work stopped, seek a court injunction, and suspend or revoke a building or demolition permit tied to the site.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time can construction start in Cambridge?
Is there a decibel limit for daytime construction noise too?
Can emergency utility work happen outside permitted construction hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cambridge
How Cambridge compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Cambridge to another location·View the Massachusetts noise ordinances overview
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Construction Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle construction hours.