Clay, NY Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime steady-state cap
- 52 dB(A) / 59 dB(D)
- Nighttime steady-state cap
- 45 dB(A) / 52 dB(D)
- Daytime transient cap
- 72 dB(A) / 79 dB(D)
- Night hours
- 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Penalty
- Up to $250 fine or 15 days jail
Summary
The Town of Clay caps noise at the property line under a numeric table in its Noise Ordinance: 52 dB(A) for steady-state sound and 72 dB(A) for transient sound during the day, dropping to 45 dB(A) and 65 dB(A) overnight. Motors, speakers, and similar equipment may not exceed these limits.
L. No person shall operate or cause to be operated any mechanism, device, or equipment including any engine, motor, amplifier, speaker, bell, horn, drum, hoist, pump, exhaust fan, attic fan, air-conditioning apparatus or similar mechanical device, in such a manner as to create a noise at the offender's property line exceeding the level set forth in Table 1 hereof. TABLE 1 (dB re 0.0002 microbars) Noise Level Limits at Property Line Steady-State Transient dB(A) dB(D) dB(A) dB(D) Daily 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. 52 59 72 79 Evenings 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 45 52 65 72
Full Breakdown
Chapter 152, the Noise Ordinance of the Town of Clay, adopted May 1, 1978 and most recently amended November 18, 2024 by Local Law No. 3-2024, sets numeric limits at Table 1 of § 152-4. During the day, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., steady-state noise, lasting longer than one minute, is capped at 52 dB(A) or 59 dB(D), and transient noise, one minute or less, is capped at 72 dB(A) or 79 dB(D). Overnight, 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., the steady-state cap drops to 45 dB(A) or 52 dB(D), and the transient cap drops to 65 dB(A) or 72 dB(D).
Section 152-4L applies these limits to any mechanism, device, or equipment, including an engine, motor, amplifier, speaker, bell, horn, drum, hoist, pump, exhaust fan, attic fan, or air-conditioning apparatus, operated so as to create noise at the offender's property line above the table's levels. Related clauses in § 152-4 separately bar motorcycle and snowmobile noise above the same table, screeching tires, private vehicle rebuilding and tuning outside a licensed garage, and amplified music or loudspeakers projected outdoors beyond the table's limits. Section 152-5 lets the Commissioner of Planning and Development issue a special permit allowing higher noise levels for a charitable or town-sponsored event, for up to 12 hours and no more than three consecutive days, and § 152-6 exempts emergency equipment during actual emergency use.
Violations & Fines
Creating noise above Table 1's limits at the property line, or committing any other act barred by § 152-4, is punishable under § 152-7 as a violation of the Penal Law of the State of New York, carrying a fine of up to $250, imprisonment of up to 15 days, or both. Each 24-hour continuation of the offense counts as a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the nighttime noise limit at my property line in Clay?
Can I get a permit for a loud event that exceeds the noise table?
Do lawn mowers and snowblowers have to meet the decibel table?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clay
New York rules heatmap·Compare Clay to another location·View the New York noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle decibel limits.