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Frederick, MD Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)

Some Restrictions

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

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

Key Facts

Daytime construction noise cap: 90 dBA
Nighttime cap: Table 1 levels (as low as 55 dBA)
Pile driving allowed: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. only
Public-property construction/repair: fully exempt
1st offense fine: $100 municipal infraction

Summary

Frederick caps construction and demolition site noise at 90 dBA during daytime hours, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and drops to the stricter Table 1 zoning-district limits, as low as 55 dBA in residential areas, overnight, under City Code § 15-21.2(b), backed by the noise ordinance's escalating fine schedule.

(b)A person may not cause or permit noise levels emanating from construction or demolition site activities which exceed:(1)Ninety (90) dBA during daytime hours;(2)The levels specified in Table 1 during nighttime hours.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Management Code: Supplement 13 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 112).

Full Breakdown

m. (subsection (9)); mobile agricultural field machinery used per manufacturer specifications is exempt (subsection (3)); and construction and repair work performed on public property is exempt outright (subsection (12)). 4 by filing a written hardship request and advertising a public hearing, with the Mayor and Board of Aldermen able to grant relief for up to two years. 6(a).

Violations & Fines

A first violation is a $100 municipal infraction, a second within 12 months is $500, and a third or subsequent violation within 12 months is $1,000, with each day of ongoing construction noise a separate offense (§ 15-21.7(a)-(b)). The city can also issue cease-and-desist orders and pursue other legal or equitable remedies against a noncompliant contractor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the maximum construction noise allowed in Frederick during the day?

90 dBA measured at the receiving property line during daytime hours, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., per § 15-21.2(b)(1); this applies specifically to construction and demolition site activity rather than the general Table 1 zoning limits.

Can construction crews work loudly at night in Frederick?

No. Nighttime construction noise, from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., must instead meet the Table 1 limits in § 15-21.2(a), which can be as strict as 55 dBA in residential zones, under § 15-21.2(b)(2).

Is pile driving exempt from Frederick's noise ordinance?

Only partially. Section 15-21.3(b)(9) exempts pile driving equipment solely between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.; outside those hours it must comply with the standard daytime or nighttime construction noise limits.

Does city-run construction on public property have to follow these noise limits?

No. Section 15-21.3(b)(12) exempts 'construction and repair work on public property' outright from the chapter's noise limits, unlike private construction, which must stay within the 90 dBA daytime cap and the nighttime Table 1 levels.

Sources & Official References

[1]Frederick, MD Code of Ordinances § 15-21.2(b) (Noise prohibitions)

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All Frederick rules

How Frederick compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Frederick to another location·View the Maryland noise ordinances overview

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