Marion, OH Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)

Chapter 634 of the Marion Codified Ordinances is built as a general ban on noise disturbances in § 634.02, followed by a list in § 634.03 of acts the code declares are not violations. Construction is the second item. Section 634.03(B), printed under the heading Constriction, covers operating or permitting the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling, or demolition work between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. such that the sound therefrom creates a noise disturbance across a residential real property boundary. The text then excepts emergency work of public service utilities and work done by special variance.

Two definitions in § 634.01 matter. A noise disturbance under division (P) is any sound that endangers or injures the safety or health of humans or animals, annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities, or endangers or injures personal or real property. A real property boundary under division (V) is an imaginary line along the ground surface, and its vertical extension, that separates property owned by one person from property owned by another.

Hand-held and similar equipment is split off: § 634.03(B) says it does not apply to the use of domestic power tools, which fall under subsection (C) of the same section. Table I in § 634.04 also sets numeric limits by zoning designation, with residential at 70, 65 and 60 decibels across its three time blocks and industrial at 80.

A contractor who needs work outside the printed window applies for a special variance under § 634.07. The application goes to the Safety/Service Director or a designated representative and must show that compliance would be an unreasonable hardship on the applicant, the community or other persons. Notice goes to persons who frequent the area, any variance is granted with conditions including a time limit, and the decision and reasons go on public file.