Brown County, WI Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Industrial to residential (day)
- 64 dB(A) max
- Industrial to residential (night)
- 60 dB(A) max
- Commercial to residential (night)
- 55 dB(A) max
- Applies in
- unincorporated towns only
Summary
Brown County caps how much sound an industrial or commercial source can push across the line into a residential zone, with separate decibel ceilings for daytime and nighttime hours under Chapter 39.
No person shall operate or cause to be operated on private or public property any source of sound from an industrial zone into a residential zone or commercial zone, or from a commercial zone into a residential zone that exceeds the limits set forth in Tables III and IV.
TABLE III
Maximum Permissible Sound Pressure; Daytime Hours.
Octave Band Center Ind. Into Ind. Into Commercial Into Frequency (Hz) Commercial Residential Residential
Full Breakdown
Under Brown County Code § 39.01(2)(b), sound crossing from an industrial zone into a residential or commercial zone, or from a commercial zone into a residential zone, cannot exceed the A-weighted limits in Tables III and IV: 64 dB(A) industrial-to-residential and 61 dB(A) commercial-to-residential by day, dropping to 60 dB(A) and 55 dB(A) at night. The rule applies in the unincorporated towns of Brown County, Wisconsin, not inside Green Bay, De Pere, Ashwaubenon, or the county's other incorporated cities and villages, which enforce their own noise codes. The Board of Health can grant variances for sources that can't meet the standard.
Violations & Fines
Violating the cross-zone noise limits carries a forfeiture of $100 to $500 for a first offense and $200 to $1,000 for each later offense under Brown County Code § 39.02.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this limit apply inside Green Bay or De Pere?
Can a business get relief from the standard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brown County
Compare Brown County to another location·View the Wisconsin noise ordinances overview
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