Fort Worth, TX Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Fort Worth, TX, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Code Section
- Fort Worth Code Sec. 23-8
- Heavy Equipment Hours
- Prohibited 10 PM - 7 AM
- Residential Day Limit
- 70 dBA at property line
- Maximum Fine
- $500 per day
Summary
Fort Worth City Code Sec. 23-8 restricts construction noise that disturbs neighboring properties, with heavy equipment such as pile drivers prohibited between 10 PM and 7 AM. Standard residential noise limits resume at 10 PM, effectively capping most construction at that hour.
Sec. 42.01. DISORDERLY CONDUCT. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly: ... (5) makes unreasonable noise in a public place other than a sport shooting range, as defined by Section 250.001, Local Government Code, or in or near a private residence that he has no right to occupy ... (c) For purposes of this section: ... (2) a noise is presumed to be unreasonable if the noise exceeds a decibel level of 85 after the person making the noise receives notice from a magistrate or peace officer that the noise is a public nuisance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 23-8 of the Code of Ordinances, construction activity is subject to the same decibel limits as other noise sources: 70 dBA daytime and 60 dBA nighttime at the property line in residential zones. Pile drivers, jackhammers, and similar heavy equipment are specifically prohibited between 10 PM and 7 AM. The ordinance is enforced primarily by Fort Worth Police and Code Compliance. There is no separate citywide blanket ban on weekend construction, but Sunday work must still comply with the 70 dBA cap and is widely understood to cease by 8 PM in residential neighborhoods.
Violations & Fines
Violations of Sec. 23-8 are Class C misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $500 per offense, and each day a violation continues constitutes a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can construction start in Fort Worth?
How do I report a construction noise violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Worth
How Fort Worth compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Fort Worth to another location·View the Texas noise ordinances overview
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Construction Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Tarrant County handle construction hours.