Fort Myers, FL Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential daytime cap
- 75 dBA, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Residential nighttime cap
- 60 dBA, 11 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Commercial overnight cap
- 70 dBA, 7 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Entertainment-area cap
- 75 dBA, 2 p.m.-2 a.m.
- Measured from
- property line, approved meter
Summary
Fort Myers caps sound from radios, TVs, and similar devices at set dBA levels that step down by zone and by time of day, measured from the property line.
The operation of any such set, instrument, phonograph, machine or device in a manner as to exceed the following standard sound levels, when using an approved measuring device at a distance not closer than the property line from which the noise is emanating, is prohibited: Residential, public space, agricultural, or institutional—7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 75 dBA; —7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. 65 dBA; —11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 60 dBA. Commercial and industrial—7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 75 dBA; —7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 70 dBA.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 60).
Full Breakdown
Under Fort Myers Code of Ordinances § 54-198, sound from a radio, TV, musical instrument, phonograph, or similar device may not exceed fixed decibel levels measured with an approved meter from the property line where the noise originates. Residential, public space, agricultural, and institutional zones are capped at 75 dBA from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., 65 dBA from 7 p.m.-11 p.m., and 60 dBA from 11 p.m.-7 a.m. Commercial and industrial areas are capped at 75 dBA daytime and 70 dBA overnight, while entertainment areas run 75 dBA from 2 p.m.-2 a.m. and 70 dBA the rest of the day. This is separate from, and in addition to, the city's general noise-nuisance and amplified-sound rules in §§ 54-196 and 54-197.
Violations & Fines
Noncommercial violators face a $135 fine for a first offense, $175 for a second within 12 months, $300 for a third, and $500 for later violations. Commercial/entertainment violators face $300, $400, and $500 for successive violations, and a fourth violation within 12 months triggers revocation of the occupational license.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the decibel limit measured in Fort Myers?
What happens on a second noise violation in Fort Myers?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Myers
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Lee County handle decibel limits.