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.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Cleveland, OH
Cleveland has no city ordinance restricting residential lawn ornaments, statuary, or year-round decorations. Cleveland Codified Ordinances Chapter 209 (Prope...
Cleveland, OH
Cleveland has no city ordinance regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. Size, anchoring, lighting hours, and blower-motor noise are governed by H...
Cleveland, OH
Cleveland has no municipal ordinance regulating holiday lighting timing, brightness, or animation. Holiday displays are governed by HOA and condo association...
Cleveland, OH
Cleveland requires building permits for built-in outdoor kitchens that include gas piping, plumbing, electrical wiring, or structural roofs. Freestanding por...
Cleveland, OH
Cleveland has no specific city ordinance restricting residential smokers, pellet grills, or wood-fired ovens. Persistent severe smoke could be addressed unde...
Cleveland, OH
Cleveland follows the Ohio Fire Code (OAC 1301:7-7), which incorporates the IFC. IFC Section 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking devices and LP-gas containe...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Cuyahoga County.
See how other cities in Cuyahoga County handle decibel limits.
See how Cleveland's decibel limits rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.