Gretna, LA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential day limit
- 60 dB(A), 7am-10pm
- Residential night limit
- 55 dB(A), 10pm-7am
- Industrial limit
- 75 dB(A) at all times
- Absolute exceedance cap
- 15 dB(A) over zone limit
- Enforcing agency
- Gretna Police Department
Summary
Gretna caps sound levels by land use category under section 24-132: 60 dB(A) daytime and 55 dB(A) nighttime for residential and public space, 50/45 dB(A) for multifamily dwellings, 65/60 dB(A) for commercial and convention areas, and 75 dB(A) at all times for industrial zones. No source may exceed its zone's cap by more than 15 dB(A) under any circumstance.
(a)No person shall make, continue, or cause to be made or continued any loud, unnecessary or excessive noise which unreasonably interferes with the comfort and repose of reasonable people within the jurisdiction of the city. ... Table 1 Maximum Permissible Sound Levels By Receiving Land Use Category Land Use Category Time Sound Level Limit (dB(A)) Residential, noise sensitive area, public space 7:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m./ 10:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m. 60/55 Multifamily dwelling 7:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m./ 10:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m. 50/45 Commercial, convention 7:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m./ 10:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m. 65/60 Industrial At all times 75 ... (c)For any source of sound, the sound level shall not exceed the maximum permissible sound level limit set forth in table 1 by 15 dB(A) for all land use categories.
Full Breakdown
4-1971 standards. A violation occurs when a source exceeds Table 1's limit for the receiving land use category for more than ten percent of a measurement period of at least ten minutes, measured at or beyond the property line of the source (or, for multifamily dwellings, inside the adjacent unit). Regardless of that ten percent rule, no source may ever exceed its zone's limit by more than 15 dB(A). on Sundays and holidays; authorized emergency vehicles responding to emergencies; parade or concert permit holders; activities under a special permit; and church bells and chimes.
Construction activity is exempt from the zone-specific limits in Table 1, but the industrial 75 dB(A) ceiling still applies to construction noise in every land use category. The police department issues citations under section 24-129, and cases are heard in Gretna's Mayor's Court under Chapter 40.
Violations & Fines
Violating section 24-132 is punishable under the Code's general penalty, section 1-8: a fine up to $500.00 per offense, with each day a violation continues charged as a separate offense. Cases go before the Mayor's Court, and a magistrate may substitute or add community service to any fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the nighttime noise limit in Gretna's residential areas?
Is construction noise exempt from Gretna's decibel table?
How does the city measure a noise violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gretna
Compare Gretna to another location·View the Louisiana noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.