Bellingham, WA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Unlike many Washington cities (Seattle SMC 25.08; Tacoma TMC 8.122) that adopt local dBA tables, Bellingham regulates noise primarily through the reasonableness standard plus specific quantitative triggers. BMC 10.24.120 (Public Disturbance Noise) defines public disturbance noise by enumerated category - frequent, repetitive or continuous sounds from any building / structure / apartment / condominium that unreasonably disturb peace, comfort and repose; portable audio operated at volume audible greater than 50 feet from the source and outside the operator's property; construction and industrial noise in residentially zoned areas between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.; amplified music after 10:00 p.m. citywide (11:00 p.m. in Downtown / Fairhaven / waterfront entertainment districts). The numeric receiving-property framework is supplied by state law: WAC 173-60-040 (Chapter 173-60 Maximum Environmental Noise Levels, Washington State Department of Ecology) establishes the EDNA (Environmental Designation for Noise Abatement) classes - Class A residential, Class B commercial, Class C industrial - and a 3x3 source-to-receiving matrix at the receiving property line: Class A source to Class A receiving 55 dBA, A-to-B 57, A-to-C 60; B-to-A 57, B-to-B 60, B-to-C 65; C-to-A 60, C-to-B 65, C-to-C 70. Between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., all caps for Class A receiving property are reduced by 10 dBA (residential receives 45 / 47 / 50 dBA from A / B / C sources respectively at night). WAC 173-60-040 also permits short temporary exceedances: 5 dBA for 15 minutes per hour, 10 dBA for 5 minutes per hour, or 15 dBA for 1.5 minutes per hour. On the motor-vehicle side, BMC 11.15.400 (Automotive sound systems and horns - Excessive noise prohibition) parallels the BMC 10.24.120(B) portable-audio rule: it is unlawful to operate a motor vehicle audio sound system (tape players, radios, compact disc players) at a volume audible greater than 50 feet from the vehicle, or to operate a horn or siren attached to a motor vehicle in a frequent, repetitive or continuous manner (except as a warning of danger or as required by law). Special-event amplification is governed by City of Bellingham special-event permits. State backstops include RCW 9A.84.030 (disorderly conduct) and RCW 70.107 (Noise Control Act of 1974) which authorizes the WAC 173-60 framework.