Douglas County, NE Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime limit
- 65 dbA, 7am-10pm
- Nighttime limit
- 55 dbA, 10pm-7am
- Applies to
- LI (Light Industrial) district only
- Measured at
- boundary of residential district
- Penalty
- Class III misdemeanor per § 13.12
Summary
Unincorporated Douglas County caps industrial noise at 65 dbA (7am-10pm) and 55 dbA (10pm-7am) at the boundary of any residential district in Light Industrial zones; Omaha and its incorporated cities enforce separate codes.
No operation in the LI district shall generate sound levels in excess of 65 dbA between the hours of 7:00 am and 10:00 pm, and 55 dbA between the hours of 10:00 pm and 7:00 am, measured at the boundary of a residential district. All noises shall be muffled so as not to be objectionable because of intermittence, beat frequency, or shrillness.
Full Breakdown
Douglas County's zoning code sets a hard numeric noise ceiling for Light Industrial (LI) district operations: 65 dbA from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm and 55 dbA from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am, measured at the line where the LI parcel meets a residential zoning district. The rule also bars noise that is objectionable for being intermittent, beat-frequency, or shrill, regardless of the decibel reading. It only reaches the unincorporated county. Omaha, Bennington, Valley, Waterloo, and Ralston each administer their own noise rules, so a business inside any of those cities is not covered by this section.
Violations & Fines
Violating this decibel cap is a Class III misdemeanor under § 13.12; each 24-hour period the noise continues counts as a separate, additional violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this decibel limit apply inside Omaha?
What happens if an LI-district business exceeds the limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Douglas County
Compare Douglas County to another location·View the Nebraska noise ordinances overview
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