Laredo, TX Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Amplified sound / car stereo
- 55 dB(A) at 10 feet
- Air conditioning unit
- 55 residential / 65 nonresidential
- Construction average cap
- 65 dB(A) over 30 minutes
- Power-tool quiet hours
- 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Governing section
- Code § 21-217
Summary
Laredo section 21-217 sets hard decibel caps: air conditioners cannot exceed 55 dB(A) on residential property or 65 dB(A) on nonresidential, amplified sound cannot hit 55 dB(A) at ten feet, and construction is capped at a 65 dB(A) thirty-minute average from the closest public street.
Air conditioning units. The operation of any air conditioning unit which produces a sound exceeding fifty-five (55) dB(A) on residential property or sixty-five (65) dB(A) on nonresidential property, when measured at or near fifteen (15) feet... Construction noises. ...if such work is conducted after 8:00 p.m. or before 7:00 a.m., or the average noise level over a thirty (30) minute period exceeds a sixty-five (65) dB(A) sound level when measured from the closest public street in five (5) minute intervals according to section 21-222...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 Update 3 | Land Development Code: Supplement 1).
Full Breakdown
Laredo enumerates specific decibel thresholds in section 21-217, all measured under the procedure in section 21-222. Car stereos and amplified sound on private or public property become a prima facie noise nuisance at 55 dB(A) or greater measured ten feet from the source. Power tools, mowers, blowers and similar equipment are banned from 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and, during the day, may not exceed 75 dB(A) at the nearest residential property. Air conditioning units may not exceed 55 dB(A) on residential property or 65 dB(A) on nonresidential property at fifteen feet. Construction cannot run after 8:00 p.m. or before 7:00 a.m., nor exceed a 65 dB(A) thirty-minute average from the closest public street.
Violations & Fines
Each listed activity is a prima facie noise nuisance and unlawful under section 21-216. Laredo police measure the sound per section 21-222 at the stated distance and cite the operator; the ban reaches 5,000 feet beyond city limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the decibel limit for a car stereo in Laredo?
When is construction noise banned in Laredo?
How loud can an air conditioner be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Laredo
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