Waukegan, IL Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Waukegan, IL, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Protected construction hours
- 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. daily
- Emergency work
- Exempt at any hour (§ 11-34(c)(5))
- First-offense fine outside window
- $300.00
- Governing section
- Code § 11-34(c)(4)
Summary
Waukegan's 50-foot amplified-sound ban does not apply to construction, demolition or repair noise generated between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., so contractors working within that window are shielded from the city's Section 11-34 noise citation.
(c)This section shall not apply to any of the following:(1)Sound generated in conjuncture with a city-sponsored event;(2)A person participating in a parade, public assembly or athletic event for which, a permit has been obtained pursuant to chapter 15, article V of this Code;(3)An emergency warning device or alarm sounded for emergency purposes;(4)Sound generated between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. in construction, demolition or repair work;(5)Sound generated in construction, demolition or repair work of an emergency nature or in work on public improvements authorized by a governmental body or agency;(6)Sound generated by an aircraft or generated in connection with the operation of any airport; and(7)Sound generated by church bells.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 113).
Full Breakdown
' A fifth exception separately protects emergency construction work or work on publicly authorized improvements at any hour, regardless of the clock. window, ordinary construction noise loses that specific shelter and a job site generating sound audible 50 feet away could be measured against the general prohibition in subsections (a) and (b), the same rule used against loudspeakers and live bands. Violations of Section 11-34 are cited directly under its own escalating fine schedule rather than the general chapter 11 penalty in Section 11-35, and the city may pursue the citation through administrative adjudication instead of Lake County Circuit Court. The window applies citywide and is not tied to a particular zoning district or permit type.
Violations & Fines
A citation issued under Section 11-34 for construction noise outside the protected hours carries the section's own fine schedule: $300.00 for a first offense, $500.00 for a second offense within one year, and $1,000.00 for a third or subsequent offense within one year, with each day of continued violation potentially treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours can construction crews make noise in Waukegan?
Can a contractor work at night on an emergency repair?
What if construction noise happens outside 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waukegan
How Waukegan compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Waukegan to another location·View the Illinois noise ordinances overview
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