Lake Charles, LA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Decibel cap
- 80 dB(C) impulsive sound
- Daytime hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Nighttime threshold
- Under 4 occurrences/hour or recount as continuous
- Governing section
- City Code § 13-7.1(d)(2)
- Measurement standard
- ANSI S1.4-1983 C-weighting network
- Enforcing agency
- Lake Charles Police Department
Summary
Lake Charles measures impulsive noise complaints against an 80-decibel cap under Sec. 13-7.1(d)(2): sound cannot equal or exceed 80 dB(C) between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., and the same 80 dB(C) limit applies overnight if the impulsive sound occurs fewer than four times an hour. Repeat impulsive sound four-plus times an hour is measured as continuous sound instead.
(2)To aid in the enforcement of this section the police department may make impulsive sound measurements. Such measurements may be used by the trier of fact to aid in making a determination as to whether a violation has occurred...Accordingly, for purposes of this provision the following guidelines shall be used:a.Between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., impulsive sound should not equal or exceed 80 decibels.b.Between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., impulsive sound which occurs less than four times in any hour should not equal or exceed 80 decibels. Impulsive sound which repeats four or more times in any hour shall be measured as continuous sound. "dbC" means the sound level as measured using the "C" weighting network with a sound level meter reading the standards set forth in ANSI S1.4-1983 or its successors. The unit of reporting is dB(C).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 1(d) gives the Lake Charles police department authority to take impulsive sound measurements to help prove excessive-noise violations under the ordinance. 4-1983 or its successor standard. , the same 80-decibel cap applies to impulsive sound that occurs fewer than four times in an hour; if the sound repeats four or more times in an hour, the ordinance switches to measuring it as continuous sound rather than impulsive sound. The measurement protocol requires indoor readings to be taken at least three feet from any wall, floor or ceiling, with all exterior doors and windows in a consistent open-or-closed configuration and every other sound source in the dwelling, such as a television or stereo, shut off.
Readings cannot be taken in casual-use spaces like hallways, closets or bathrooms. These decibel readings are not the only path to a citation: subsection (d)(1) also lets any citizen file a sworn, verified affidavit with law enforcement to trigger enforcement of the broader excessive-noise prohibition, independent of a decibel measurement. A violation of the decibel standard carries the same escalating civil penalty as any other Sec. 1 violation.
Violations & Fines
Impulsive sound measured at or above 80 decibels dB(C) during the restricted hours in Sec. 13-7.1(d)(2), whether by police measurement or by a citizen's sworn affidavit under (d)(1), is punishable under Sec. 13-7.1(e): up to $150.00 for a first offense, up to $250.00 for a second within 12 months, and up to $500.00 for a third or later offense within that period.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the decibel limit for noise in Lake Charles?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake Charles
Compare Lake Charles to another location·View the Louisiana noise ordinances overview
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