Baytown, TX Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime max
- 75 dB(A), 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Nighttime max
- 65 dB(A), 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Impulse noise trigger
- 15 dB(A) above baseline or 40 dB(A)
- Jurisdiction reach
- City limits plus 5,000 feet beyond
- Measurement standard
- ANSI-calibrated Type 1/2 sound meter
Summary
Baytown sets hard decibel ceilings for noise reaching residential property: 75 dB(A) between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., dropping to 65 dB(A) the rest of the time, under Sec. 34-363. A sharp, impulse-type sound counts as a violation once it's 15 dB(A) above the ambient baseline or above 40 dB(A).
it shall be prima facie evidence that a sound unreasonably disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, or safety of others in violation of section 34-362 when an activity or sound source produces an impulse noise (i) with a dB(A) level more than 15 dB(A) above the greater of the measured baseline noise or 40 dB(A) or (ii) with the following maximum dB(A) levels:(1)75 dB(A) between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.; and(2)65 dB(A) at all other times.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 83 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 34-363 makes these numbers prima facie evidence of a violation of the general noise prohibition in Sec. 34-362, meaning a reading over the line is enough to support a citation without more proof. The impulse-noise trigger, sources like gunfire, hammering, pile driving or metal impacts, is measured against "baseline noise," defined in Sec. 34-361 as the total ambient sound measured for at least five continuous minutes on residential property using the LA90 statistical method. Baytown's noise jurisdiction is not limited to the city limits: Sec.
34-361 extends it to territory within 5,000 feet outside the corporate boundary, so a source just outside the line can still be cited. Measurements must be taken with a Type 1 or Type 2 calibrated sound level meter using the A-weighting scale and ANSI-specified response settings under Sec. 34-364. Critically, Sec. 34-363(b) makes clear that the absence of a decibel reading does not block prosecution: officers can still cite a noise source under Sec. 34-362 using other admissible evidence if a reasonably prudent person would conclude the sound was unreasonably loud, disturbing or unnecessary. The decibel ceiling therefore works as one enforcement tool among several under this noise article, not the sole test for a violation.
Violations & Fines
A reading of 75 dB(A) or higher during the day, 65 dB(A) or higher at night, or an impulse sound 15 dB(A) above baseline (or over 40 dB(A)), is prima facie evidence of a Sec. 34-362 noise violation. Baytown Police can cite the source, and conviction draws the general penalty fine under Sec. 1-14, up to $500, with each continuing violation treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum noise level allowed in a Baytown neighborhood at night?
Do I need a decibel reading to get cited for noise in Baytown?
How far outside Baytown's city limits does the noise ordinance reach?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Baytown
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Baytown to another location·View the Texas noise ordinances overview
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Harris County handle decibel limits.