Lacey, WA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Lacey Municipal Code § 16.57.030 is the numeric noise standard in the City of Lacey, Thurston County, Washington. Subsection A sets the maximum allowable levels, measured at the property line of the noise impacted use, by incorporating Chapter 173-60 WAC, titled Maximum Environmental Noise Levels, by reference. Subsection B gives each land use an Environmental Designation for Noise Abatement, or EDNA: all living areas and all public and institutional areas are Class A, all commercial areas are Class B, and light industrial, industrial, and mineral extraction land is Class C.

Subsection C bars any person from causing or permitting noise to intrude into the property of another person above the levels in Table 16T-14. The table is read by the class of the noise source and the class of the receiving property. A Class A source is limited to 55 dBA at a Class A receiving property, 57 dBA at Class B, and 60 dBA at Class C. A Class B source is limited to 57, 60, and 65. A Class C source is limited to 60, 65, and 70. Between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the table limits are reduced by 10 dBA for receiving property in Class A areas, which covers living areas.

At any hour of the day or night the limits can be exceeded for short bursts: by 5 dBA for a total of 15 minutes in any one-hour period, by 10 dBA for a total of 5 minutes, or by 15 dBA for a total of 1.5 minutes.

Section 16.57.080 puts the burden of proof on the operator and owner. The enforcing officer can require technical data, undertake independent studies, and require steps to prevent, repair, or mitigate degradation, and the developer, operator, or property owner pays or reimburses the city for tests and technical consultants. Under LMC 11.09.050, conditional uses must also meet the Chapter 16.57 performance standards, and the city can require stricter ones. Section 16.57.040(G) separately restricts temporary construction vibration to the hours between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., and LMC 14.38.010 bans outside construction from nine p.m. to seven a.m. in or next to residential zones.