Clinton Township, MI Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Zoning Code §1156.05
- Base limit
- 65 decibels at the property line
- I-1 Light Industrial
- Up to 70 decibels
- I-2 General Industrial
- Up to 75 decibels
- Traffic exception
- May match, not exceed, ambient street noise
Summary
Clinton Township's Zoning Code sets hard decibel ceilings by district under Section 1156.05. Most uses may not exceed 65 decibels measured at the property line, Light Industrial (I-1) uses get a 70-decibel ceiling, and General Industrial (I-2) uses get 75 decibels, with an exception when ambient street traffic noise already runs louder.
(a) The emission of measurable noises from the premises shall not exceed 65 decibels as measured at the property lines, except that where normal street traffic noises exceed 65 decibels during such periods, the measurable noise emanating from premises may equal, but not exceed, such traffic noises. Within I-1 Districts, sound levels not exceeding 70 decibels may be permitted. Within I-2 Districts, sound levels not exceeding 75 decibels may be permitted. (b) Objectionable sounds of an intermittent nature, or characterized by high frequencies even if falling below the aforementioned decibel readings, shall be controlled so as not to become a nuisance to adjacent uses.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-25: Local legislation current through May 26, 2026).
Full Breakdown
05, Noise, is one of the Performance Standards in Chapter 1156 that every use in every district must satisfy regardless of its underlying zoning classification. Subsection (a) sets the baseline: the emission of measurable noise from a premises cannot exceed 65 decibels as measured at the property line. The section builds in a traffic-noise exception: if normal street traffic noise already exceeds 65 decibels during a given period, the property's own noise may match but not exceed that ambient traffic level. Industrial districts get higher ceilings that scale with the intensity of use permitted there: I-1 Light Industrial Districts may run up to 70 decibels, and I-2 General Industrial Districts may run up to 75 decibels, both still measured at the property line.
Subsection (b) adds a qualitative backstop that the straight decibel numbers do not capture: objectionable sounds of an intermittent nature, or characterized by high frequencies, must be controlled so they do not become a nuisance to adjacent uses even if the reading falls below the numeric limit for the district. 01, it operates alongside, not instead of, any noise provisions in the Township's general nuisance or police-power ordinances; a use that is quiet enough under this zoning standard can still face action under a separate Township ordinance for intermittent or high-frequency noise nuisances.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 1156 does not set its own fine schedule for a noise reading over the district limit; a Zoning Code violation of Section 1156.05 is enforced under the general penalty at Section 202.99, a fine of not more than $500, imprisonment of not more than 93 days, or both, with each day the excess-noise condition continues counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum noise level allowed at a Clinton Township property line?
Is there an exception if street traffic is already loud?
Can a quiet sound still violate Clinton Township's noise standard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clinton Township
Compare Clinton Township to another location·View the Michigan noise ordinances overview
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Macomb County handle decibel limits.