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Fort Smith, AR Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Construction hours in Fort Smith, AR, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.

Key Facts

Daytime limit
80 dB(A), 7 a.m.–11 p.m.
Nighttime limit
75 dB(A), 11:01 p.m.–6:59 a.m.
Allowed hours set by
The building permit itself
Penalty
Misdemeanor under Sec. 1-9

Summary

Construction projects in Fort Smith must stay within industrial-zone noise limits, 80 dB(A) daytime, 75 dB(A) at night, for as long as the building permit allows work.

(e) Construction. Construction projects shall be subject to the limitations specified for industrial zones for the period of time allowed by the building permit.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).

Full Breakdown

Fort Smith doesn't set a blanket construction curfew; instead Sec. 16-45(e) folds construction projects into the industrial-zone noise table for the entire period the building permit authorizes work. That means 80 dB(A) measured at the property line from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., dropping to 75 dB(A) from 11:01 p.m. to 6:59 a.m. (Sec. 16-45(a), Table 1). Because permits set the allowed work hours, a contractor working outside permitted hours is separately violating the permit on top of any noise-limit breach. All measurements use a calibrated Type II sound level meter (Sec. 16-44).

Violations & Fines

Exceeding the industrial-zone decibel limits during permitted work, or operating outside the building permit's authorized hours, is a misdemeanor under Sec. 1-9; each day counts separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Fort Smith's legal construction noise hours?
There's no fixed citywide curfew: construction noise is allowed for whatever hours the building permit authorizes, capped at industrial-zone decibel limits (Sec. 16-45(e)).
How loud can a construction site be during the day?
Up to 80 dB(A) at the property line from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., dropping to 75 dB(A) overnight, per Table 1 in Sec. 16-45.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Fort Smith

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All Fort Smith rules

How Fort Smith compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Fort Smith to another location·View the Arkansas noise ordinances overview

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