Melbourne, FL Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Sec. 26-25(a) and Table 2 of the city's noise ordinance set the base decibel ceilings by land use category and time. Category A, "noise-sensitive zones" such as schools, libraries, churches, hospitals and nursing homes marked with conspicuous signage, is capped at 55 dB(A) at any time. m. Category C, commercial, professional and industrial areas, is capped at 65 dB(A) by day and 60 dB(A) at night. The code makes clear these limits are absolute regardless of source: "The sound level limits set forth in tables 2, 3, 4 and 5 for a land use category described by the letter symbol A or B in Table 1 shall not be exceeded by noise emanating from either the same land use category or a different land use category," so a noise-sensitive zone's 55 dB(A) cap controls even if it is louder noise bleeding in from an adjoining residential or commercial property.

Measurement under Sec. 26-26 must be taken with a calibrated ANSI-compliant sound level meter, at the emitting property's boundary, over at least five minutes, by someone trained in a city-approved noise measurement program, and a pure-tone source gets a further 5 dB(A) reduction to its limit under Sec. 26-25(d).