Arlington, TX Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Arlington's noise framework does not rely on a single residential decibel number the way some cities (for example, Los Angeles or Chicago) do. The primary enforcement tool is Chapter 22's plainly-audible and reasonable-person standard: if the sound can be clearly heard inside a neighboring home or across the property line and would disturb a person of ordinary sensibilities, it is a violation, regardless of the measured dBA. Where decibels do come into play are in the zoning ordinance's performance standards at the boundary between industrial and non-industrial districts (typical values are in the 55 to 70 dBA range depending on adjacency and time of day), in noise-variance permits issued for large outdoor events at AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Field, Six Flags, Choctaw Stadium, and Esports Stadium Arlington, and in specific use permit (SUP) conditions attached to bars, live music venues, and event spaces. Officers are equipped with Type 2 sound level meters for cases where a measurement strengthens prosecution, especially for industrial complaints or repeat offenders, but the vast majority of residential citations (barking dogs, parties, vehicle audio) are written on the plainly-audible standard alone. This is enforceable under Texas case law and has been upheld on void-for-vagueness challenges. Residents who want to establish a baseline can request a sound-level reading through 311, though the city does not guarantee response timing.