Bellevue, WA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential-to-residential cap
- 55 dBA
- Commercial-to-commercial cap
- 60 dBA
- Industrial-to-industrial cap
- 70 dBA
- Nighttime residential reduction
- minus 10 dBA, 10pm-7am
- Enforcing office
- Development services director
Summary
Bellevue caps sound crossing a property line at 55 to 70 dBA depending on the noise source's and receiving property's zone classification (EDNA), with a 10 dBA nighttime cutback for residential areas, under BCC 9.18.030.
No person shall cause or permit sound to intrude onto the real property of another person which exceeds the maximum permissible sound levels established by this chapter. The point of measurement shall be at the property boundary of the receiving property or anywhere within.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 6929, passed July 14, 2026).
Full Breakdown
030(A) bars anyone from causing sound to intrude onto another person's property beyond the chapter's maximum permissible levels, measured at the receiving property's boundary or anywhere within it. 030(B) sets the ceiling by a source-to-receiver EDNA grid: noise from a Class A (residential) source is capped at 55 dBA hitting another Class A property, 57 dBA hitting Class B (commercial), and 60 dBA hitting Class C (industrial); a Class B source is capped at 57/60/65 dBA respectively; and a Class C source is capped at 60/65/70 dBA respectively.
) for Class A receiving property, drops five dBA for impulsive or pure-tone sounds at any time, but can rise five dBA for 15 minutes, 10 dBA for five minutes, or 15 dBA for 90 seconds in any hour to accommodate short-duration spikes. 045A permit gets an extra 10 dBA allowance. 030(E). The director of the development services department enforces this section.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding BCC 9.18.030's decibel table is a civil violation under Chapter 1.18 BCC, enforceable by the development services director with a monetary penalty and required abatement. The chapter also allows misdemeanor prosecution under BCC 9.18.050(D) in addition to or instead of the civil penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum noise level allowed at my property line in Bellevue?
Does the noise limit drop at night?
What happens if I exceed Bellevue's decibel limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bellevue
Compare Bellevue to another location·View the Washington noise ordinances overview
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle decibel limits.