Douglas County, CO Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Douglas County, CO, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Daytime construction cap
- 80 dB(A), 7am-7pm
- Nighttime construction cap
- 75 dB(A), 7pm-7am
- Duration of cap
- Runs with construction permit's completion period
- Set by
- Director of Community Development
- Not exempt
- Construction is not on the 8-item exclusion list
Summary
Douglas County doesn't set a construction start-and-stop clock; it regulates construction noise by decibel level instead. Under § 1-1703A(3), construction activity is capped at 80 dB(A) between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and drops to 75 dB(A) overnight, for as long as an active construction permit's completion period runs, or otherwise a reasonable completion period the Director sets.
3. In all zone districts, the maximum permissible noise level for construction activities shall not exceed 80 dB(A) between 7:00 a.m. and the next 7:00 p.m., and 75 dB(A) between 7:00 p.m. and the next 7:00 a.m., for the period within which construction is to be completed pursuant to any applicable construction permit issued, or if no time limitation is imposed, for a reasonable period of time for completion of project, as determined by the Director. [§ 25-12-103(5), C.R.S.]
4. Noise by means of any electronic amplifier shall not exceed 55 dB(A) in the B, C, LI, and GI Districts or similar districts within Planned Developments.
§ 1-1704A. Specific Exclusions. The following uses and/or activities are excluded from the requirements of § 1-1703A:
1. The operation of aircraft or other activities which are subject to federal law with respect to noise control. [§ 25-12-103(4), C.R.S.]
2. The use of property for purposes of conducting speed or endurance events involving motor or other vehicles, but such exception is effective only during the specific period of time within which such use of the property is authorized by the Board of County Commissioners. [§ 25-12-103(7), C.R.S.]
3. The commercial use of property and commercial activity. [§ 25-12-104, C.R.S.]
4. The use of property for a farming or ranching activity. [§ 25-12-104, C.R.S.]
5.
Full Breakdown
m. That cap applies for the period within which construction is to be completed pursuant to any applicable construction permit issued, or if no time limitation is imposed, for a reasonable period of time for completion of project, as determined by the Director, meaning the county's Director of Community Development can set the outside date for how long the elevated construction allowance applies to a given project. The 80/75 dB(A) construction thresholds sit well above the general 55/50 dB(A) limits that apply to ordinary land uses in the A-1, LRR, RR, ER, SR, MF and MH districts, reflecting that heavy equipment is expected on an active job site.
Measurement still follows § 1-1705A, an A-weighted reading taken at least 25 feet from the lot line, under wind of 5 mph or less (10 mph with a windscreen), with ambient noise factored in. Construction noise is not on the list of eight specific exclusions in § 1-1704A, so a project generating noise above 80 dB(A) by day or 75 dB(A) overnight is a straightforward violation rather than an exempt activity, regardless of whether the work is otherwise permitted.
Violations & Fines
Construction noise above 80 dB(A) daytime or 75 dB(A) overnight breaches Douglas County Zoning Resolution § 1-1703A(3) and is prosecuted like any other zoning violation under §§ 1-113 and 1-114: a $100 civil infraction per violation, a civil penalty of $500 to $1,000, a continuing fine of up to $100 for each day the noise continues, or an injunction or abatement action to stop the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a set start time for construction noise in Douglas County?
Why is the construction limit higher than the general noise limit?
Can a construction site be cited for noise even with a valid building permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Douglas County
How Douglas County compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Douglas County to another location·View the Colorado noise ordinances overview
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