Cleveland sets quantitative decibel thresholds by zoning district under CCO Chapter 683, with residential limits of 55 dBA day and 50 dBA night measured at the property line.
Cleveland Codified Ordinances Chapter 683 combines a general nuisance standard with quantitative decibel limits tied to zoning district. Typical thresholds measured at the receiving property line are 55 dBA daytime and 50 dBA nighttime in residential districts, 65 dBA daytime and 60 dBA nighttime in commercial districts, and 70 dBA in industrial districts with stricter limits where adjacent to residential. Daytime is defined as 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and nighttime as 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Impulsive sounds such as hammering or pile driving, and pure-tone sounds such as constant mechanical hums, are assessed with a 5 dBA penalty added before comparison to the limit. Enforcement officers use Type 2 sound level meters calibrated to ANSI standards. Violations start as minor misdemeanors with escalating penalties for repeat offenses within twelve months.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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