St. Joseph County, IN Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in St. Joseph County, IN, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Allowed hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Emergency permit issuer
- Building commissioner
- Emergency permit length
- Up to 3 days
- Renewal
- Additional 3-day periods while ongoing
- Nighttime exception
- Commissioner may allow it
- Penalty
- Fine per schedule, § 130.99(B)
Summary
Erecting, demolishing, altering or repairing any building in unincorporated St. Joseph County outside 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. is a noise violation unless the building commissioner has issued an emergency permit. Section 130.02(9) treats after-hours construction noise the same as any other prohibited loud noise under chapter 130.
(9)The erection (including excavating), demolition, alteration or repair of any building, other than between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., except in case of urgent necessity in the interest of public health and safety, and then only with a permit from the building commissioner. The permit may be granted for a period of time not to exceed three days or less while the emergency continues and may be renewed for a period of three days or less while the emergency continues. If the building commissioner shall determine that the public health and safety will not be impaired by the erection, demolition, alteration or repair of any building or excavation of streets and highways within the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., and further determines that loss or inconvenience would result to any party in interest, he or she may grant permission for the work to be done within the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. upon application being made at the time the permit for work is awarded or during the progress of the work;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 3).
Full Breakdown
, except in a case of urgent necessity affecting public health and safety, and even then only with a permit from the county building commissioner. That emergency permit is tightly time-boxed: it can run for up to three days while the emergency continues, and can be renewed for another three days or less as long as the emergency persists. will not impair public health and safety, and finds that a party in interest would otherwise suffer loss or inconvenience, the commissioner can grant permission for that work at the time the original work permit is issued or while the job is underway. 01. m. 06 by paying the fine at the traffic violations bureau.
Violations & Fines
Construction, demolition, alteration or excavation work outside the 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. window violates § 130.02(9) unless the building commissioner has issued a permit for urgent, health-and-safety-driven work, which runs a maximum of three days at a time before it must be renewed. Section 130.99(B) fines any violation of §§ 130.01 through 130.06 as set in the schedule of fines and fees, and the county sheriff or police can issue the citation, payable at the traffic violations bureau under § 130.06.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours can a contractor legally run equipment on a job site?
Can I get permission to work past 8:00 p.m.?
What is the penalty for building noise outside permitted hours?
Does the county restrict heavy equipment like pile drivers separately?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Joseph County
How St. Joseph County compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare St. Joseph County to another location·View the Indiana noise ordinances overview
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