St. Tammany Parish, LA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential daytime limit
- 65 dB(A), 7 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays
- Residential nighttime limit
- 60 dB(A) overnight
- Industrial daytime limit
- 75 dB(A), the highest allowance
- Impulsive sound allowance
- +10 dB(A) for explosions, impacts
- Measurement method
- Average of 3 readings at complainant's dwelling
- Penalty
- $100-$500 fine or up to 30 days jail
- Governing sections
- Secs. 26-111 through 26-114
Summary
St. Tammany Parish caps outdoor sound at set decibel levels that shift by zoning district and time of day under Code of Ordinances Sec. 26-113. Residential districts allow 65 dB(A) by day and 60 dB(A) at night, while industrial zones permit up to 75 dB(A) daytime. Enforcement uses a three-reading average taken at the complainant's property.
(a)An increase of ten dB(A) is allowed for impulsive sounds.(b)To determine the sound level, three readings will be taken at the complainant's dwelling or structure and the mean of these readings will determine the actual decibel count.(1)E, R-1, R-2, L-1, L-2, S-1, S-2, TF, M-L, M-M, M-H, PUD, and all zoning districts with a manufactured housing overlay: Maximum dB(A) Daytime 65 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. weekends Nighttime 60 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. weekdays 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. weekends
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 26, Article IV of the parish Code of Ordinances sets numeric sound limits instead of a vague nuisance standard. Sec. 26-113 divides zoning districts into four groups. on weekends) and 60 dB(A) overnight. across the entire week. Industrial districts I-1, I-2, I-3, SWM-1, SWM-2 and AML get the widest allowance: 75 dB(A) daytime and 65 dB(A) nighttime. Sec. 26-113(a) grants a ten dB(A) increase for impulsive sounds such as explosions or drop-forge impacts, and readings are taken by averaging three measurements at the complaining party's dwelling or structure per Sec.
26-113(b). Sec. 26-112 defines 'sound level' as an A-weighted decibel reading taken with a slow-response meter. Sec. 26-114 exempts emergency vehicles and emergency work entirely, and exempts construction activity from the daytime cap, though construction must still meet the nighttime maximum. Sec. 26-111 directs the enforcing agency to weigh the time, place, manner and nature of the sound, including amplification, when deciding whether a complaint rises to a nuisance under Sec. 26-1(4) and (5).
Violations & Fines
Noise violations are prosecuted as misdemeanors under Sec. 26-9, which covers every provision of Chapter 26 including the noise article. A conviction carries a fine of not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense, so an unresolved noise complaint above the applicable daytime or nighttime cap can compound into multiple citations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum decibel level for noise in a St. Tammany Parish residential neighborhood?
How does the parish measure whether sound exceeds the legal limit?
Are construction sites or emergency responders exempt from the noise limits?
What penalty applies if I'm cited for violating the noise ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Tammany Parish
Compare St. Tammany Parish to another location·View the Louisiana noise ordinances overview
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