Mesa, AZ Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard
- Reasonable-person test, no fixed decibel table
- Zoning factor
- Source property's zoning/land use is a listed factor
- Nighttime weight
- 10:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m. sounds weighed more heavily
- First-offense fine
- $250-$1,500 civil sanction
- Habitual offender
- 3 violations/12 months triggers Class 1 misdemeanor
Summary
Mesa's noise ordinance doesn't set separate decibel limits by zoning district; instead, Title 6, Chapter 12, Section 6-12-3 bans any loud, unnecessary, or unusual sound that disturbs a reasonable person and directs enforcement to weigh the zoning and permitted land use of the source property alongside volume, timing, and duration.
(A)It is a violation of this Chapter for any person to make, assist in making, permit, continue, cause to be made or continued, or permit the continuance of any loud, unnecessary, or unusual sound or noise that disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, or safety of a reasonable person. In determining whether a sound or noise is loud, unnecessary, or unusual, the following factors will be considered in addition to any other relevant information:(1)Volume and intensity of the sound or noise;(2)Proximity of the source of the sound or noise to residential structures on residential property;(3)The zoning and permitted land uses of the property or area from which the sound or noise emanates;(4)Whether the sound or noise is recurrent, intermittent, or constant;(5)Time of day, especially a sound or noise occurring between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 22).
Full Breakdown
Mesa City Code Section 6-12-3(A) makes it a violation for any person to make, permit, or continue any loud, unnecessary, or unusual sound or noise that disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, or safety of a reasonable person. ; the level of background noise; whether the sound is amplified electronically or mechanically; and whether the source could control it without unreasonable effort or expense. For an industrial or commercial source, the zoning factor is decisive in practice, a compressor or loading dock in an M-2 general industrial district is judged against a materially different baseline than the same equipment next to homes in a residential zone.
Section 6-12-3(B) makes clear this general prohibition applies independently of and in addition to the Chapter's specific rules on animal noise (Section 6-12-4) and motor vehicle sound (Section 6-12-5). Construction, landscaping, and similar work get their own exemption window under Section 6-12-6(F), but factories and other fixed industrial sources fall back on the Section 6-12-3 reasonable-person standard year-round.
Violations & Fines
A first Section 6-12-3 civil violation carries a sanction of $250 to $1,500 under Section 6-12-10(B). A second finding within 24 months of a prior violation raises the range to $500-$2,500, and a third within 24 months raises it again to $750-$2,500. Each day of violation is a separate offense, and a person found responsible three times within 12 months becomes a habitual offender facing a Class 1 criminal misdemeanor under Section 6-12-11, punishable by up to six months in jail and a mandatory minimum $500 fine per count.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mesa set decibel limits for industrial noise?
How does zoning affect a Mesa noise complaint?
What's the fine for a noise violation in Mesa?
Are there set hours for industrial noise in Mesa?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mesa
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How other cities in Maricopa County handle decibel limits.