Highlands County, FL Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Highlands County, FL, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Barred hours
- 9:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.
- Allowed hours (exception)
- 6:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
- Emergency work
- Exempt at any hour
- Test used
- Plainly audible across property line
- Penalty
- Class I civil infraction, daily
Summary
In unincorporated Highlands County, running construction, excavation, grading, pile-driving, demolition or building-alteration equipment loud enough to reach across a residential property line is barred between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. A separate exception lets usual construction noise run freely between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., and emergency work is exempt at any hour.
(2)Construction equipment. It shall be a violation of this section to operate any equipment used in construction activity, building, excavation, grading, pile driving, pneumatic hammering, demolition, dredging, building alteration or repair work in a manner which is plainly audible across a real property line of any residential zoning district or residential area between the hours of 9:00 p.m. of one day and 6:00 a.m. of the next day, except for emergency work.
Full Breakdown
of the next, with a stated carve-out for emergency work. are exempt from the noise and sound level regulations altogether, so a contractor working standard daytime hours is not exposed even if neighbors find the noise loud. 6-103 as work to prevent or alleviate physical trauma or property damage from an emergency, from the curfew at any hour. 6-106 that apply to other, unlisted noise sources.
Violations & Fines
A nighttime construction-noise violation of Section 5.6-105(2) is a Class I civil infraction under Sections 2-372 and 2-373, enforced under article XII of chapter 2 by Highlands County Code Enforcement Officers or the Sheriff's Office, with each night the work continues past 9:00 p.m. counted as a separate offense. The board of county commissioners or an affected property owner may also seek an injunction in circuit court under Section 5.6-111.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours can a contractor run construction equipment in unincorporated Highlands County?
Is emergency repair work exempt from the construction noise curfew?
Does the county need a decibel reading to cite a nighttime construction violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Highlands County
How Highlands County compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Highlands County to another location·View the Florida noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.