Bend, OR Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential limit
- 65 dBA daytime, 60 dBA nighttime
- Commercial limit
- 70 dBA daytime, 65 dBA nighttime
- Industrial limit
- 75 dBA daytime, 70 dBA nighttime
- Non-residential receiving property
- 85 dBA daytime, 80 dBA nighttime
- Enforcement
- Bend Police, Municipal Court, Class A infraction
- First-violation penalty
- up to $250, rises to $10,000 for repeats
Summary
In the City of Bend, Bend Code § 5.50.020 sets numeric noise ceilings measured at the receiving property, not the source. Residential zones may not exceed 65 dBA by day or 60 dBA at night; commercial zones cap out at 70 dBA daytime and 65 dBA nighttime; industrial zones allow 75 dBA daytime and 70 dBA nighttime. Non-residential receiving properties face an 85/80 dBA ceiling instead.
A. No person may create noise on a property if that noise results in a noise level above the levels listed in this subsection when measured on a property other than the source of the sound and that contains a residence or other noise sensitive unit. ... +---------------+---------+-----------+
| Zone Location | Daytime | Nighttime | +---------------+---------+-----------+ | Residential | 65 dBA | 60 dBA | +---------------+---------+-----------+ | Commercial | 70 dBA | 65 dBA | +---------------+---------+-----------+ | Industrial | 75 dBA | 70 dBA | +---------------+---------+-----------+
Full Breakdown
Bend defines daytime as 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and nighttime as 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. under Bend Code § 5.50.015, and the zoned limits in § 5.50.020 apply when sound is measured at a property other than the source that contains a residence or other noise-sensitive unit such as a place of worship, day care, hospital, school or nursing facility. Measurement is not required to cite a violation, but if a sound level meter is used it must be a Type I or Type II meter with the A-weighting network, per § 5.50.010.
Beyond the zoned table, § 5.50.020(B) sets an 85 dBA daytime and 80 dBA nighttime cap when noise reaches a non-residential property without a sensitive use, and § 5.50.020(C) separately bars noise in a park, street or other public place that is unnecessarily loud at a distance of 50 feet, though the City Manager may designate exempt areas or grant a permit under § 5.50.035 to exceed that limit. The City Manager may also issue emergency or event permits allowing otherwise-prohibited noise, appealable to the City Council within 15 days.
Bend Police and Code Enforcement respond to complaints, and a citation may name the specific subsection violated without citing the general prohibition in § 5.50.005. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense under § 5.50.040.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Bend's noise chapter is a Class A civil infraction under Bend Code § 5.50.040. The maximum penalty is $250 for a first violation within a year, $1,500 for a second within a year of the first, $5,000 for a third, and $10,000 for a fourth or any later violation within a year of the one before it. The Municipal Court cannot reduce any penalty by more than 50 percent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Bend's residential noise limits?
Do I need a meter reading to get cited?
What happens for repeat noise violations in Bend?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bend
Compare Bend to another location·View the Oregon noise ordinances overview
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