Framingham, MA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Framingham, MA, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Allowed hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Nighttime construction
- Prohibited outright near residences
- Residential daytime limit
- 65 dB(A) L10
- Residential evening limit
- 60 dB(A) L10
- Governing section
- Framingham City Code § 332-6
- Roadway exemption
- Table 2 does not apply
Summary
Framingham limits construction and demolition to 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. under Section 332-6 of the City Code. Nonemergency construction noise near residential property is barred outright at night, and daytime and evening noise from the job site cannot exceed the numeric limits in Table 2, enforced by the Framingham Police Department.
In general, construction and/or demolition activities shall only be permitted to occur within the City during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ... Table 2 Construction Noise Criteria Limits Receiver Land Use Daytime Noise Limit (7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) Evening Noise Limit (6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.) Nighttime Noise Limit (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) Residential: including private residences, multifamily residences, apartment complexes, retirement homes, etc. 65 dB(A) L10 or bkgd L10 + 5 dB(A), whichever is great 60 dB(A) L10 or bkgd L10 + 5 dB(A), whichever is greater N/A (*) Nonemergency construction and/or demolition activities are prohibited
Full Breakdown
Section 332-6 confines construction and demolition activity across the City to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., recognizing that the work is inherently noisy and balancing contractors' needs against residents' need for quiet. Cumulative noise from the site, and the noise emitted by any single piece of equipment measured 50 feet from its loudest side, must stay within Table 2. For residential receivers, the daytime limit is 65 dB(A) L10 and the evening limit is 60 dB(A) L10 (both measured against a 20-minute background reading plus 5 dB(A) if that is higher); nonemergency construction or demolition noise reaching a residential property at night is prohibited outright, not merely capped.
Mixed residential-commercial receivers get 75 dB(A) by day and 70 dB(A) in the evening, and commercial receivers get 80 dB(A) by day and 75 dB(A) in the evening, both also barred at night. Table 2 does not apply to roadway construction, and the City Council can authorize nighttime work when necessary to protect public safety. Section 332-4C(12) separately lists construction and demolition among the nuisance noises barred during the general 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (Sunday-Thursday) and 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. (Friday-Saturday) curfew.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of the construction noise or hours rule draws a written warning and a deadline to bring the site into compliance. A second violation within twelve months costs $100, and any further violation in that period costs $300 under Section 332-12. Working past 6:00 p.m. or before 7:00 a.m. without City Council authorization, or exceeding Table 2 during permitted hours, both count as violations of Section 332-6.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours can construction happen in Framingham?
What is the construction noise limit near homes?
Do the construction noise limits apply to road work?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Framingham
How Framingham compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Framingham to another location·View the Massachusetts noise ordinances overview
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