Lawrence, MA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Lawrence, MA, 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. to 7:00 a.m.
- Exception
- Emergency utility work
- Exception
- Special variance
- Penalty
- $200 minimum per offense
- Applies at
- Residential property boundary
Summary
Lawrence bars noisy construction, drilling, or demolition work between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. if the sound crosses a residential property boundary. The city carves out an exception for emergency utility work or a special variance, and violators face a minimum $200.00 fine per offense.
Construction. It is unlawful to operate or permit the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction drilling or demolition work between the hours of nine p.m. and seven a.m. such that the sound therefrom creates a noise disturbance across a residential real property boundary except for emergency work of public service utilities or by special variance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 8).
Full Breakdown
if the resulting sound creates a noise disturbance across a residential real property boundary. The section carves out two narrow exceptions: emergency work performed by public service utilities, and work covered by a special variance obtained under the code. 040(A) if the noise otherwise annoys, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, or safety of others, subject to that clause's own protection for noise necessary to protect life, limb, or property. Construction is one of six enumerated specific prohibitions under subsection B, alongside domestic power tools, loudspeakers, model vehicles, radios, and fireworks, all of which the ordinance states are illustrative rather than exhaustive: violations of the section are not limited to those acts. c. 40 Section 21D rather than a criminal complaint.
Violations & Fines
Running construction, drilling, or demolition equipment between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. so that the noise crosses into a residential property, without an emergency-utility or special-variance exception, is fined not less than $200.00 per offense under Section 9.04.040(C), with each day of continued violation counted separately. Police officers and traffic control officers may cite the responsible contractor or property owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can contractors get a variance to work at night in Lawrence?
What hours can construction noise run in Lawrence?
What is the fine for late-night construction noise?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lawrence
How Lawrence compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Lawrence to another location·View the Massachusetts noise ordinances overview
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