Royal Oak Township, MI Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)

The construction hours rule is § 32-791(b)(2)c of the Royal Oak Charter Township Code, part of the zoning performance standards. Operation of any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling or demolition work is prohibited between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays or any time on Sundays or holidays, such that the sound creates a noise disturbance across a residential district boundary or within a noise sensitive zone, except for emergency work of public service utilities. Paragraph a adds the general rule that no person shall make, continue or cause to be made or continued any noise disturbance.

The exceptions in § 32-791(b)(3) cover sound that alerts persons to an emergency or comes from performance of emergency work, snow plowing, street sweeping and other public works activities, church bells, chimes and carillons, and lawn care and house maintenance that occurs between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. A noise sensitive zone is an area containing activities such as schools, libraries, churches, hospitals and nursing homes. A variance application goes to the zoning board of appeals with a statement on noise effects, including a study of background noise levels, and the board can grant it only where strict adherence would create unnecessary hardship and the variance will not threaten public health, safety and welfare.

Chapter 8, article II, adds a second clock for smaller equipment. Section 8-23(a) provides that no person shall use equipment of 20 hp or less, including power generators, power hand tools, chainsaws and jackhammers or other pavement breakers, in or adjacent to residential areas to erect, excavate, demolish, alter or repair any building, to work on streets, driveways or walkways, or to build, repair or restore any motor vehicle between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Residential power equipment such as lawn mowers and leaf blowers is limited to use between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Under § 8-23(d), a person who shows the Township Board in advance that compliance would cause unreasonable hardship, with no reasonable means of limiting the sound, can be granted the right to emit noise.