Miami, FL Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Industrial night limit
- 70 dBA max (5 dBA above ambient)
- Industrial day limit
- 75 dBA max (10 dBA above ambient)
- Measured at
- receiving property line
- Meter standard
- ANSI sound level meter
- Citation
- Miami Code § 36-8
Summary
Miami caps noise from industrial and wholesale commercial equipment at 70 dBA above ambient at night and 75 dBA during the day, measured at the property line under Sec. 36-8.
It shall be unlawful to operate mechanical and fire equipment, including air conditioning compressors, pumps, blowers, exhaust fans, filters and other similar noise-producing equipment, in all residential, institutional, commercial and industrial zoned property, when such equipment emits noise which exceeds the following noise levels, measured at the receiving property line nearest to the source; such sound levels shall be measured with a sound level meter manufactured according to standards prescribed by the American National Standards Institute:
Maximum Permitted Sound Level in Decibels dBA Receiving Land Use At Property Line or Beyond
Between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. At Property Line or Beyond Between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Single-family 5 dBA above ambient or maximum of 55 dBA 10 dBA above ambient or maximum of 60 dBA Multifamily, institutional, parks and noise-sensitive zones 5 dBA above ambient or maximum of 60 dBA 10 dBA above ambient or maximum of 65 dBA Retail commercial (offices, retail, restaurants and movies) 5 dBA above ambient or maximum of 65 dBA 10 dBA above ambient or maximum of 65 dBA Wholesale commercial and industrial 5 dBA above ambient or maximum of 70 dBA 10 dBA above ambient or maximum of 75 dBA
(Code 1967, § 36-15; Ord. No. 10754, § 1, 6-28-90; Code 1980, § 36-15)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 | Ordinance 11000 (Previous Zoning Code): Supplement 22 | Miami 21 (Zoning Code): ?).
Full Breakdown
Miami's noise code, Sec. 36-8, sets maximum sound levels for mechanical and fire equipment -- air conditioning compressors, pumps, blowers, exhaust fans, filters and similar noise-producing gear -- operating on residential, institutional, commercial and industrial zoned property. Wholesale commercial and industrial uses get the loosest ceiling in the city: no more than 5 dBA above ambient, or a maximum of 70 dBA, between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., and 10 dBA above ambient, or a maximum of 75 dBA, between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Levels are measured at the receiving property line nearest the source with an ANSI-standard sound level meter. Single-family residential zones are held to a stricter 55/60 dBA ceiling by the same table.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the applicable decibel ceiling at the receiving property line is itself the violation; it is enforced as a code compliance matter, with cases referable to the code enforcement board.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the noise limit for a factory or warehouse in Miami?
How does the city measure industrial equipment noise?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miami to another location·View the Florida noise ordinances overview
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Miami-Dade County handle decibel limits.