Bonita Springs, FL Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential limit
- 66 dBA day, 55 dBA night
- Commercial limit
- 72 dBA day, 65 dBA night
- Industrial limit
- 75 dBA at all times
- Day period
- 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Multifamily limit
- 50 dBA day, 45 dBA night, measured inside unit
- Penalty
- Second-degree misdemeanor, up to $500.00 and 60 days
- Enforcer
- Lee County Sheriff's Office
Summary
In the City of Bonita Springs, Lee County, Florida, Code § 20-22 sets sound limits by receiving land use: 66 dBA by day and 55 dBA at night on residential, public space or agricultural land, 72 and 65 dBA on commercial land, and 75 dBA at all times on industrial land. The Lee County Sheriff's Office measures and enforces.
(1)Maximum permissible sound levels by receiving land. No person shall operate or cause to be operated any source of sound in such a manner as to create a sound level which exceeds the limits set forth for the receiving land use category in table 1 when measured at or within the real property line of the receiving land. Table 1 SOUND LEVELS BY RECEIVING LAND USE Land Use Category Time Sound Level Limit dBA Residential, public space, or agricultural 7:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m. 66 55 Commercial or business 7:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m. 72 65 Manufacturing or industrial At all times 75 ... 1.For any source of sound which emits a pure tone, the maximum sound level limits set forth in table 1 shall be reduced by five dBA. ... 1.Multifamily dwellings. In the case of multifamily dwelling units, it shall be unlawful to create or permit to be created any noise that exceeds 50 dBA during the hours between 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. or 45 dBA during the hours between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. daily, as measured from the receiving dwelling unit within such multifamily dwelling.
Full Breakdown
The Bonita Springs Noise Control Ordinance, Chapter 20, Article II of the city code, applies throughout the corporate limits of the City of Bonita Springs. Section 20-22(1) sets the Table 1 limits and measures them at or within the real property line of the receiving land, not at the source. Residential, public space and agricultural land get 66 dBA from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 55 dBA from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Commercial or business land gets 72 dBA by day and 65 dBA at night. Manufacturing or industrial land is held to 75 dBA at all times.
The table moves with the character of the sound. A pure tone reduces the applicable limit by five dBA. An impulsive sound of short duration with an abrupt onset raises the limit by ten dBA between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Multifamily dwellings face tighter numbers: 50 dBA from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 45 dBA from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., measured from the receiving dwelling unit.
The ordinance writes its own measurement rules. The meter must meet type 2 requirements under ANSI S1.4-1983 or its successor, be calibrated per the manufacturer, sit within the boundary of the receiving land, point at the source, and use the A-weighted network on slow response. A measurement must be at least five dB above ambient, and the ambient level must be at least five dBA lower than the source for a violation to exist. Where a meter reading is unavailable or inappropriate, Section 20-22(2) lets deputies find a noise disturbance by weighing the listed standards, including volume, vibration, proximity to residential sleeping facilities, time of day and duration.
Construction, demolition, alteration or repair within or adjacent to a residential area is prohibited before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and at any time on Sundays or legal holidays. Equipment that must run around the clock near a residential use is shielded from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. unless unshielded noise is under 55 dBA. A commercial or industrial use established before residential encroachment takes the commercial or industrial limit, and proving that history is an affirmative defense.
Section 20-24 lets the city manager or designee grant a written waiver within 30 days of application, for no longer than 180 days, renewable by further application. Waivers from the maximum levels are available for industrial or commercial area operations in existence on or before April 29, 1993. An aggrieved applicant appeals to the city council within 30 days of the written decision.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Article II is a second-degree misdemeanor under Section 20-26, punishable upon conviction by a fine not exceeding $500.00, imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 60 days, or both. Each separate occurrence is a separate offense. Under Section 20-27 the Bonita Springs City Council can also sue for injunctive relief to prevent or abate violations. The Lee County Sheriff's Office investigates under Section 20-25 and can separately charge breach of the peace or disorderly conduct under F.S. § 877.03.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the nighttime noise limit at a home in the City of Bonita Springs?
Who enforces the Bonita Springs noise ordinance?
Can a business get relief from the decibel limits?
Do the limits apply to construction work?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bonita Springs
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Lee County handle decibel limits.