Montgomery County, OH Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- County industrial-noise rule
- None; set locally
- Dayton stationary day cap
- 61 dB(A)
- Dayton stationary night cap
- 55 dB(A)
- Engine exhaust
- Effective muffler required
- Township authority
- ORC 505.172
Summary
The county sets no industrial-noise ordinance. Dayton regulates stationary noise sources by decibel limit and by requiring internal-combustion engines and exhausts to run through effective mufflers.
No person shall operate any gas engine or any other engine operated by internal combustion without a muffling device, or in such a manner as to produce an annoying noise in the neighborhood of said gas engine.
Full Breakdown
Factory, machinery, and fixed-equipment noise is controlled by local zoning and noise codes, not a county law. Dayton's stationary-noise rules cap sound from any fixed source at 61 dB(A) daytime and 55 dB(A) nighttime in residential-adjacent districts, measured at the property line, and declare excess noise a public nuisance. Dayton also requires that exhaust from stationary internal-combustion engines discharge only through an effective muffler and mandates muffling devices on gas engines. Industrial operations in incorporated areas answer to their city's zoning and noise codes; in unincorporated townships, trustees regulate under ORC 505.172. Ohio EPA rules may also apply to industrial emissions.
Violations & Fines
In Dayton, stationary and engine-noise violations are fourth-degree misdemeanors and are declared public nuisances, allowing abatement in addition to criminal penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is factory noise regulated in the county?
Do engines need mufflers under Dayton's code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montgomery County
Compare Montgomery County to another location·View the Ohio noise ordinances overview
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