Quincy, MA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Quincy, MA, 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 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays
- Base noise cap
- 75 dBA
- With approved plan
- 85 dBA
- Off-hours standard
- § 215-4 limits apply
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Inspectional Services
Summary
Quincy, Massachusetts (Norfolk County) limits construction noise to 75 dBA, or 85 dBA with an approved plan, only from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays; outside those hours, the citywide ambient noise caps apply instead.
A person must not cause or permit noise levels from construction activity that exceed the following levels: (a) From 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays: [1] Seventy-five dBA if the Department has not approved a noise-suppression plan for the activity; or [2] Eight-five dBA if the Department has approved a noise-suppression plan for the activity. (b) The level specified in § 215-4 at all other times.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4608810; v7 updated 2025-10-06; through 10-06-2025).
Full Breakdown
Under Quincy Municipal Code § 215-5, construction noise may not exceed 75 dBA during the 7 a.m.-to-5 p.m. weekday window, rising to 85 dBA only if the Department of Inspectional Services has approved a written noise-suppression plan for the site. Outside that weekday daytime window, nights, weekends, and holidays, construction noise must instead meet the much stricter general limits in § 215-4 (as low as 65 dBA at night in residential areas), effectively barring loud building activity outside standard weekday hours in Quincy, Massachusetts (Norfolk County).
Violations & Fines
Violating the construction noise cap is a separate offense each day; the City can fine $100 per day and issue a stop-work order of 3 to 7 working days for repeat violations at the same site.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours can construction noise occur in Quincy?
Can contractors get a louder noise limit approved?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Quincy
How Quincy compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Quincy to another location·View the Massachusetts noise ordinances overview
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