Newark, OH Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)

Construction noise in the City of Newark, Ohio is controlled by Section 634.04(a)(7) of the Newark Code of Ordinances. No person may operate or permit the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling or demolition work between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of the following day, such that the sound creates a noise disturbance across a residential real property boundary. The code sets no earlier or later cutoff, so work from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. is not restricted by this paragraph.

Section 634.02 defines the covered work. Construction means any site preparation, assembly, erection, substantial repair, alteration or similar action, excluding demolition, for or on public or private rights of way, structures, utilities or similar property. Demolition means any dismantling, intentional destruction or removal of structures, utilities, public or private right-of-way surfaces or similar property. Drilling is named on its own in the paragraph.

The code lists two ways around the ban. The first is emergency work of public service utilities. Emergency work is defined as work performed to prevent or alleviate physical trauma or property damage threatened or caused by an emergency, meaning actual or imminent physical trauma or property damage or loss that demands immediate action. The second is a special variance, which Section 634.04 elsewhere ties to the Director of Public Safety.

The paragraph does not apply to domestic power tools. Those fall under Section 634.04(a)(11), which bars mechanically powered saws, drills, sanders, grinders, lawn or garden tools and lawnmowers used outdoors in residential areas between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., other than powered snow removal equipment. Section 634.06(b)(1) also removes activities covered by (a)(7) and (a)(11) from the Section 634.05 decibel table, so the clock and the disturbance test are the standards.