Pierce County, WA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Pierce County, WA, 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
- PCC 8.76.070.C
- Homeowner project window
- 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.
- Nighttime residential curfew
- 10 p.m. - 7 a.m.
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only
- Enforcement
- Noise Control Officer / Sheriff
Summary
Unincorporated Pierce County exempts temporary construction-site noise from the Chapter 8.76 decibel limits during the day, but that exemption stops for residential (Class A) areas between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Residential home-improvement projects are exempt 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Cities set their own construction hours.
The following shall be exempt from Section 8.76.060, except insofar as such provisions relate to the reception of noise within Class A EDNA's between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.: 1. Sounds originating from temporary construction sites as a result of construction activity…
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-515, and legislation passed through May 26, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under PCC 8.76.070.C, temporary construction-site noise 'as a result of construction activity' is exempt from the environmental-noise limits of PCC 8.76.060, except for noise received within Class A (residential) areas between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. This effectively creates a nighttime construction-noise curfew near homes in the unincorporated county. Separately, PCC 8.76.070.A exempts, only between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., residential 'construction, maintenance or repair of homes, grounds and appurtenances,' giving homeowner DIY projects a 7 a.m.-10 p.m. window. Chapter 8.72 PCC mirrors these residential-construction and forestry carve-outs (PCC 8.72.110.A). Incorporated cities such as Tacoma, Puyallup, and Lakewood set their own, often narrower, construction hours.
Violations & Fines
The Noise Control Officer enforces the Class A nighttime limit under Chapter 8.76; disturbance complaints go to the Sheriff under Chapter 8.72. Enforcement usually begins with a warning; continued nighttime work near homes can draw citations and civil penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can construction crews make noise in unincorporated Pierce County?
Can I do home projects on weekends?
Do county hours apply in the cities?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pierce County
How Pierce County compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Pierce County to another location·View the Washington noise ordinances overview
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