Kankakee County, IL Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- I1 and I2 industrial districts only
- 1,000 Hz residential daytime limit
- 45 decibels
- 1,000 Hz residential nighttime limit
- 35 decibels
- 1,000 Hz commercial boundary limit
- 57 decibels
- Impulsive sound limit (residential, day)
- 56 dB(A)
- Measurement standard
- State Pollution Control Board Parts 900, 901, 951
Summary
Kankakee County caps industrial noise numerically, not with a general 'unreasonable noise' standard. At the 1,000-hertz octave band, an I1 or I2 industrial use cannot exceed 45 decibels measured at a residential district boundary in the daytime, 35 decibels at night, or 57 decibels at a commercial district boundary.
(b)Noise.(1)Measurement techniques. Sound levels shall be measured with a sound level meter and associated octave band filter manufactured according to standards referenced. Measurement techniques shall be conducted in accordance with the state Pollution Control Board Regulations Parts 900, 901, and 951.(2)Exceeding designated octave bands. At no point on the boundary of a residential zoned district or commercial zoned district shall the sound pressure level of any operation or plant (other than background noises not directly under the control of the manufacturer) exceed the decibel limits in the octave bands designated in table 1 of this section. Table 1 Octave band center Within residence District boundaries Within commercial Frequency (hertz) Daytime Nighttime District boundaries ... 1000 45 35 57
Full Breakdown
Section 121-207(b) sets performance standards for noise generated by uses in the I1 light-industrial and I2 general-industrial districts, applying only to uses established after the ordinance's effective date. Sound levels must be measured with a sound level meter and octave-band filter under the state Pollution Control Board's Parts 900, 901, and 951 procedures. Table 1 sets a sliding scale of decibel limits by octave band, tightest at higher frequencies: at 1,000 hertz the limit is 45 decibels in the daytime and 35 decibels at night measured at a residential district boundary, and 57 decibels at a commercial district boundary, with no day/night split for commercial.
5 hertz, allows up to 72 decibels daytime and 63 nighttime at a residential boundary and 80 decibels at a commercial boundary, reflecting that low-frequency rumble is less noticeable than mid-range tones. The chapter separately caps impulsive sounds (Table 2, 56 dB(A) daytime/46 dB(A) nighttime at a residential boundary) and prominent discrete tones, and it exempts specific everyday sources: emergency warning devices, daytime lawn and snow equipment, daytime temporary construction equipment, agricultural field machinery outside nighttime hours, and daytime temporary emergency generators. These standards apply only to the industrial districts; they are not a general county noise ordinance covering residential-to-residential disputes, bars, or vehicles.
Violations & Fines
A use in an I1 or I2 district that exceeds the octave-band limits in Table 1, measured at the boundary of an adjoining residential or commercial district, is out of compliance with the performance standards and subject to zoning enforcement by the Planning Department, which can deny occupancy or require abatement measures such as enclosure or additional screening. An existing use in place before the ordinance's effective date cannot be altered, enlarged, or modified in a way that creates or worsens a conflict with these standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kankakee County have a numeric noise limit?
How loud can an industrial plant be at night near my house?
Are lawnmowers or construction equipment covered by this limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kankakee County
Compare Kankakee County to another location·View the Illinois noise ordinances overview
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