Portland, OR Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Portland, OR, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Max construction noise
- 85 dBA at 50 feet
- Allowed hours
- 7 a.m.–6 p.m. weekdays/Sat
- Restricted hours
- 6 p.m.–7 a.m. nightly, all Sunday
- Pile driver cutoff
- 6 p.m.–8 a.m., Fri–Mon
- Max civil penalty
- $5,000 per violation
Summary
Commercial construction equipment may run up to 85 dBA from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays. From 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily, all day Sunday, and on legal holidays, only the lower general noise limits apply, barring loud construction work without a variance.
A. Maximum sound levels: No person may operate any equipment or appurtenances in commercial construction activities that exceeds 85 dBA, when measured at 50 feet (15.2 meters) from the source. This standard does not apply to trucks (see Section 18.10.020), pile drivers, pavement breakers, scrapers, concrete saws and rock drills.
B. Night, weekend, and legal holidays limitation: From 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the following morning, and 6:00 p.m. Saturday to 7:00 a.m. the following Monday, and on legal holidays, the permissible sound levels of Section 18.10.010 apply to all construction activities except by variance or for reasons of emergency. The exempted equipment of Subsection A. above is not exempted during these hours. For purposes of this Subsection, construction activities on a public road within a zone will be considered as taking place on private property within that zone.
C. The adjustments to permissible sound levels established in Subsection 18.10.010 B. apply to Subsections A. and B. above.
D. All equipment used in commercial activities must have sound control devices no less effective than those provided on the original equipment, and no equipment may have an unmuffled exhaust.
E. All equipment used in commercial construction activities must comply with pertinent standards of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
F. Pile drivers:
Full Breakdown
Portland City Code § 18.10.060 caps commercial construction equipment at 85 dBA measured 50 feet from the source, with exemptions for trucks, pile drivers, pavement breakers, scrapers, concrete saws, and rock drills. That higher construction allowance only runs weekdays and Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. From 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. every night, from 6 p.m. Saturday through 7 a.m. Monday, and on legal holidays, the general residential-zone sound limits of § 18.10.010 kick in instead, effectively barring standard loud construction work during those windows unless the Noise Control Officer or Noise Review Board grants a variance or it's an emergency. Pile drivers face a stricter cutoff, 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. weekdays and 6 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Monday, plus a mailed notice to every residence within 500 feet at least 30 days before pile driving starts.
Violations & Fines
Civil penalty up to $5,000 per violation, with each day of noncompliance a separate violation; enforced by the City Administrator, who may also assess monthly enforcement fees and record a property lien if a citation goes uncorrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can construction crews work in Portland on Sundays?
What is the normal construction noise limit in Portland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Portland
How Portland compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Portland to another location·View the Oregon noise ordinances overview
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Construction Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Multnomah County handle construction hours.