Monroe County, FL Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)

Monroe County's noise ordinance (chapter 17, article IV) makes disturbing noise unlawful throughout the unincorporated Keys, defining a violation either by unreasonable character or by a measured sound level of 75 dBA or 84 dBC sustained for ten percent of a ten-minute reading at the property boundary (Sec. 17-130). daily, and Sec. 17-131(3) exempts construction, demolition and auguring equipment from the disturbing-noise standard only while work happens inside that window. and the exemption disappears, exposing the contractor or property owner to a citation under Sec.

17-130. Enforcement falls to code compliance officers and law enforcement personnel designated as "noise control officers" under Sec. 17-129, who may cite based on a complainant's own experience of the noise even without a meter reading (Sec. 17-130(d)). Penalties under Sec. 00 for a subsequent offense, and a commercial entity's business tax receipt can be revoked by the special magistrate after two or more violations. A contractor who cannot practically finish within the window may apply to the planning director for a special variance under Sec.

17-133, which requires notice to adjacent property owners and expires after 365 days. Public-event sound under an approved public assembly permit is exempted separately and is not covered by this construction window.