Huntsville, AL Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Industrial limit
- 70 dB(A) at all times
- Commercial limit
- 62 dB(A) at all times
- Measured at
- receiving property line
- Mixed-use rule
- most restrictive category applies
- Max penalty
- $500 fine / 6 months jail
Summary
Huntsville caps sound from commercial and industrial sources at fixed decibel levels measured at the receiving property line, with industrial land allowed the highest ceiling.
No person shall operate, cause to be operated or generate any source of sound in such a manner as to create a sound level which exceeds the following limits when measured at or within the property line of the receiving land use: ... Commercial or business At all times 62 ... Industrial At all times 70. When a noise source can be identified and its sound measured in more than one land use category, the sound level limits of the most restrictive land use category shall apply.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 30 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. 12-265 sets sound level limits by the land use RECEIVING the noise, measured at or within that property's line. Commercial or business property is capped at 62 dB(A) at all times; industrial property is capped at 70 dB(A) at all times. Residential, open space, agricultural and institutional receivers get a stricter 55 dB(A) daytime / 50 dB(A) nighttime limit. If a noise source is heard across more than one land-use category, the most restrictive category's limit controls, so a factory next to a home must meet the 55/50 residential cap at that boundary, not the 70 dB(A) industrial number. Measurements are taken with an A-weighted, slow-response sound level meter at least four feet above the ground.
Violations & Fines
Violation of Sec. 12-265 is enforced under the Sec. 1-7 general penalty: a fine up to $500, up to 6 months in city jail or hard labor, or both, with each day of a continuing violation charged as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What decibel limit applies to industrial noise in Huntsville?
Does the industrial limit apply if the noise crosses into a residential area?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Huntsville
Compare Huntsville to another location·View the Alabama noise ordinances overview
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Madison County handle decibel limits.