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Kennewick, WA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Class C source cap
70 dBA between industrial parcels
Cap into residential (Class A)
60 dBA at property line
Nighttime residential reduction
10 dBA less, 8pm-6am
Enforcement
Police Chief & Planning Director
Civil penalty
$25-$500 per day

Summary

Kennewick's EDNA noise table caps industrial-zone sound crossing a property line at 70 dBA between industrial parcels and 60 dBA into a residential zone, with a nighttime residential cutback and civil penalties up to $500 per day.

No person may cause or permit noise to intrude into the property of another which exceeds the maximum permissible noise level set forth in this Section. The point of measurement is the property boundary of the receiving property, or anywhere within. The noise limitations established are as set forth in the following table, after any applicable adjustments provided for in this Section are applied:

Table I: Maximum Permissible Environmental Noise Levels EDNA of Noise Source EDNA of Receiving Property Class A Class B Class C Class A 55 dBA 57 dBA 60 dBA Class B 57 dBA 60 dBA 65 dBA Class C 60 dBA 65 dBA 70 dBA

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 19 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

Kennewick's noise code (Chapter 9.52 KMC) zones the city into EDNA classes tied to zoning: industrial districts (IP, IL, IH) plus Agricultural and some Public Facility zones are Class C. Table I caps how much sound a Class C source may push across a property line: 60 dBA into a residential Class A receiving property, 65 dBA into commercial Class B, and 70 dBA between industrial parcels. Nighttime hours add a 10 dBA cutback for residential receivers, and violations draw a Police Chief/Planning Director civil penalty of $25 to $500 per day.

Violations & Fines

Civil penalty of $25-$500 per day set by the Police Chief and Planning Director after a 10-day cure notice; repeated violations are a misdemeanor and the noise itself can be abated as a nuisance under Chapter 9.48.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the industrial noise limit into a residential zone in Kennewick?
Sound from a Class C (industrial) zoned source may not exceed 60 dBA at the boundary of a Class A (residential) receiving property under KMC 9.52.060, Table I.
Does the noise limit change at night?
Yes: between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., the table's limits into a Class A residential receiving property drop by 10 dBA under KMC 9.52.060(2)(a).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Kennewick

All Kennewick rules

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