Marion, OH Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Section 634.04(A) bars any person from operating, causing or permitting any source of sound on private property in a way that creates a sound level above the limits in Table I. The table sets three time windows for three zoning designations. From 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., running until 12:00 midnight on Friday and Saturday, the limits are 70 decibels residential, 75 commercial and 80 industrial. From 9:00 p.m. until 12:00 midnight, except Friday and Saturday, they drop to 65 residential, 70 commercial and 80 industrial. From 12:00 midnight until 6:00 a.m. they are 60 residential, 65 commercial and 80 industrial. Under § 634.01, a residential area means one-family, two-family, multi-family and apartment districts, and an industrial area means any use contained in Section 1145 "Industrial Districts" of the Marion zoning code.

The chapter also says how a limit is counted as exceeded. Subsection (B) treats it as exceeded when noise tops a zone limit by 15 dBA at any one point in time, by 10 dBA for a cumulative total of one minute or more out of any ten minute period, or by 3 dBA continually for five minutes or a total of five minutes out of any ten. Subsection (C) requires the reading at or beyond the property line of the source property, at least 50 feet from the source, with the source stationary and at idle, at least four feet above the ground and ten feet from large reflecting surfaces. Subsection (D) cuts every Table I limit by five dBA for a pure tone, cyclically varying sound or repetitive impulsive sound. Subsection (F) applies the more restrictive designation when the source property and the measuring property are zoned differently, and subsection (E) judges a legally nonconforming use as if the property bore a designation under which the use would conform. Subsection (G) exempts activities covered by Section 755.03(b), (c) and (d), and refuse collection vehicles.

Section 634.07 lets the Safety/Service Director grant a time-limited special variance on a showing of unreasonable hardship, and a person who applies must keep complying with the code until the application is acted on. Section 634.11 exempts emergency alerts and emergency work, and organized school or church programs and parades or public events authorized by the Mayor.