Haverhill, MA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)

City Code § 182-6 limits when construction can make noise at all: "no erection, demolition, alteration, or repair of any building or structure and excavation in regard thereto, including gravel permit activities and operations, shall be allowed except between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.," unless the Building Inspector determines an exception is needed "in the interest of public safety or welfare." The section requires the City to print the allowed hours on "every building permit or other permit" issued for that work, and lets a contractor appeal the Building Inspector's decision under § 255-75 of the zoning code. § 182-7 adds a separate, noise-based limit that applies even inside the 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. window when a construction site sits next to housing: it is unlawful, except in emergencies handled by a public utility or a City department, "to operate any construction device(s), including but not limited to impact devices," if the equipment "emits noise, measured at the lot line of an abutting residential lot, in excess of 50 dBa between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m." Together the two sections mean a job site must stop working outside 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and, if it borders a home, must also stay under 50 dBA at the property line during the evening and overnight portion of that window.

Both sections are enforced by the Board of Health or the Building Inspector as well as police, per § 182-14, with the Housing Court or District Court available for prosecution.