Billings measures noise at 25 feet from the source (or the lot line) and sets maximum dB(A) by district: residential 65 day / 55 night, light commercial 80, heavy commercial 85, industrial 90. Exceeding the limit is prima facie a public nuisance. Unincorporated county land has no numeric limit.
Billings City Code Sec. 17-103 establishes Table I decibel limits measured at 25 feet from the source or at the lot boundary, whichever is greater. Residential: 65 dB(A) from 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. and 55 dB(A) at night. Light commercial is 80 dB(A), heavy commercial 85 dB(A), and industrial 90 dB(A). At boundaries between zones, the lower limit applies (Sec. 17-103(c)). Under Sec. 17-105, no source violates unless it is at least 10 dB(A) above ambient noise, measured on an ANSI 'A'-scale meter. Unincorporated Yellowstone County has no numeric decibel ordinance; the county sets no rule there.
Noise exceeding the Table I limit is prima facie evidence of a public nuisance and a misdemeanor under Sec. 1-110, abatable by injunction.
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